ARLINGTON – Former UT Arlington women's basketball head coach Krista Gerlich has been named to the same position at her alma mater Texas Tech.
 
The 2019 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year, Gerlich guided a resurgence for the Lady Mavericks since being named head coach prior to the 2013-14 season, and she will depart as the program's all-time winningest coach with 121 victories. A national search for her replacement will begin immediately.
 
"We thank Krista for all she has done for the Lady Mavs program," said Director of Athletics Jim Baker. "She has propelled our women's basketball team to a perennial contender in the Sun Belt and into a mid-major force nationally. In addition to the notable accomplishments on the court, she has ensured her program has achieved at a high level in the classroom and also have served as valuable members of the Arlington and Dallas-Fort Worth communities."
 
"It's no secret why other institutions want Krista to lead their programs," stated Teik C. Lim, interim president of UT Arlington. "It's not just that she coached the Lady Mavs to new heights on the court. Away from basketball, she is a leader, a mentor to her players and a Maverick who upholds the highest standards of academics and community service. She epitomized what it means to be a Maverick! We all wish her continued success in her exciting new role at her alma mater."
 
A native of Spearman, Texas, Gerlich led UTA to a 2019 Sun Belt Conference Regular Season Championship – the program's only as a member of the league and first since 2008-09 – as part of a program-record-tying 24 wins and a final ranking of No. 25 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll.
 
UTA earned an automatic bid to the WNIT in 2019, and won the program's first-ever postseason game with a triumph over Stephen F. Austin in the First Round.
 
"I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all who have supported my family and me during the past seven years at UTA," said Gerlich. "What a ride it has been! When stepping into this role, we knew there was work to be done, but with the support of the administration, the boosters, our fans, our amazing players and the wonderful people of Arlington, we were able to take Lady Mav basketball to a record-breaking, championship level. The current team, in particular, has accomplished so many firsts, and without their belief and efforts, I would not have the opportunity I have today. Goodbyes are never easy, but to say goodbye to this group is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. To no one's surprise, they have been supportive and understanding through this entire process, and it's been very emotional for all of us. Thank You. I will always be a Lady Mav fan."
 
In each of the last four seasons under Gerlich's watch, the Lady Mavs have finished in the top-3 of the Sun Belt standings each year, and have claimed three of the program's 11 all-time 20-win campaigns. One of those came this past season in 2019-20 as UTA finished 21-11 overall and was in position for another potential postseason trip before the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down the season in mid-March.
 
As part of those 21 wins last year, Gerlich spearheaded the Lady Mavs to a road victory at Big 12 foe Kansas State (57-53), giving UTA its first win over a Power 5 school since 2006.
 
Gerlich always emphasized success in the classroom as well, and that wasn't any more evident that this past spring semester when the Lady Mavs posted an incredible 3.317 team GPA. In total, seven student-athletes posted better than a 3.25 GPA, including three higher than a 3.5 and one with a perfect 4.0.
 
Additionally, in four of her eight seasons at the helm of the Lady Mavs, Gerlich's program achieved a perfect APR (Academic Progress Rate) of 1000 – something that had only occurred once in program history before her arrival. The team-based metric was established by the NCAA in 2003 and that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term.
 
Gerlich was a starter on the 1993 National Championship Texas Tech team, and later returned to Lubbock from 2003-06 to serve as an assistant coach for the Big 12 program. Her #12 jersey was retired by Texas Tech on Dec. 5, 1993.
 
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