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University of Houston Athletics
Joe Curl Steps Down as Women's Basketball Head Coach
3/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 23, 2010
HOUSTON - The conclusion of the 2009-10 season marks the end of an era in the University of Houston women's basketball program as Joe Curl announced that he will step down as head coach on Tuesday.
Curl is the longest tenured coach in the program's history, pacing the sidelines for the past 12 seasons where he compiled a 193-167 (.536) record and led the Cougars to five postseason appearances, including this season's trip to the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
"This season has been really difficult for me to keep up with everything for health reasons, so it's time for me to step aside and heal up," Curl said. "I'm very thankful for the opportunity I've had here at the University of Houston. It has been a great fit for me."
The 55-year-old floor general took over the program prior to the 1998-99 season after previous coaching stops at Trinity Valley Community College, Stephen F. Austin and Blinn College.
"I really want to thank Joe for his 12 years of service to the University of Houston and his commitment to our student-athletes," director of athletics Mack Rhoades said. "The program has enjoyed great success during his tenure and been a source of pride for our department. I want to wish Joe and his family the best; it really has been a pleasure to work with him."
After two rebuilding years, Curl recorded his first winning season at UH in 2000-01 when he guided the Cougars to a 19-13 overall record and a 10-6 mark in Conference USA. Additionally, Curl helped Houston earned a bid to the WNIT, the first appearance in postseason play for the program since the 1991-92 campaign.
The next season, Curl and the Cougars compiled a 26-8 overall mark and finished second in C-USA with an 11-3 league record to make a second straight appearance in the WNIT. During Houston's run at the WNIT, the Cougars won four consecutive games to advance to the championship where they fell just two points shy of the title, losing to Oregon, 54-52, in Eugene, Ore.
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The 2003-04 season saw the program reach new heights under Curl, as Houston recorded 28 wins, the most in school history, while earning the C-USA regular season and tournament championships and reaching the NCAA Tournament for just the third time. Following the campaign, Curl was named C-USA Coach of the Year, in addition to earning National Coach of the Year honors from the Associated Press, United States Basketball Writers Association, ESPN.com and The Basketball Times.
Curl helped the Cougars earn their only NCAA Tournament win when they defeated Wisconsin-Green Bay 62-47 on March 20, 2004, to advance to the tournament's second round.
Curl again guided to the Cougars to a 20+ win season and NCAA Tournament berth the next season as the 2004-05 squad went 21-9.
This past season, Curl had Houston in the postseason as the team earned C-USA's automatic bid to the WNIT.
Among the milestones Curl achieved during his time on the Houston sideline was his 300th career victory on Dec. 5, 2009. Later that year in the season finale at ECU, the Cougars defeated the Pirates to give Curl his 176th victory at Houston, passing former Cougar coach Dot Woodfin for the most coaching wins in program history.
During his tenure in Houston, Curl mentored 18 players who garnered All-Conference honors, including at least one First Team selection for each of the past 10 seasons. Additionally, former Cougar Chandi Jones was named Conference USA Player of the Decade and an All-America selection by numerous media outlets.
A nationwide search for the next Houston women's basketball head coach will begin immediately.
