By CINDY CROSBY
USC Salkehatchie Head Women’s Basketball Coach Olivia Gaines announced her resignation on February 8th. Gaines will finish out the 2021-22 season with the Lady Indians before beginning in her new position as the first-ever women’s head coach in the newly established program at Richard Bland College in Virginia.
Gaines took over the women’s program at Salkehatchie in the 2020-21 season. She was at the helm of a dream season for the Lady Indians where they finished 20-2 overall after going 16-0 in the regular season and 12-0 in NJCAA Region X. In her first season as a head coach, Gaines claimed the Region X Championship and lead the Lady Indians to the NJCAA D-II National Championships in North Carolina, where they finished in sixth place in the sixteen-team field after going 2-2 and being eliminated following an 84-78 loss to Kirkwood College.
Currently, the Lady Indians are 15-8 overall and 11-5 in Region X and will be looking to make another long run during post-season play.
Coach Gaines issued the following statement Tuesday February 8th.
“I will forever be grateful for the former athletic director, Jane Brewer, for hiring me and allowing me to have my first college head coaching job in my home state. My experience at Salkehatchie has been amazing – from winning the Region X Championship last year to qualifying for the National NJCAA tournament in my first year as a head coach, both of which were a dream come true for me. Having played at a junior college initially myself, then having this opportunity to build player relationships and develop their skills to prepare them to play at a four-year college like I did for Coach Dawn Staley at University of South Carolina, is a goal near and dear to my heart. While I will miss the great relationships I formed at Salk, I feel it is time for me to take the next step in my career. Leaving Salk is bitter-sweet as I never intended to leave my home state. This next opportunity will be a step up in my career as I will be starting my own program with Richard Bland College. Being a coach at Salkehatchie, you must have thick skin, and I wish the next coach much success. I will finish out the season with my kids and we will aim to get another ring. I would also like to thank the current AD Jeremy Joye for respecting my decision. Thank you, Salkehatchie.”
According to USC Salk press release, the search for the next head coach will begin soon.
Salkehatchie is also looking to fill the head coaching position for the men’s basketball program after the mid-season resignation of head coach Glen Mayo. Local Matthew Bennett who served as an assistant under Mayo has been leading the Indians as the interim head coach sinch Mayo’s resignation. A search for either job posting on the University of South Carolina Job Center came up empty, as did a search for open positions on the NJCAA Job Board.
