Morehead State Women’s Basketball Hires Allison Quinn as Assistant Coach for 2026-27 Season

Morehead State University has officially added Allison Quinn to its women’s basketball coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, marking the program’s first full-time assistant coach hire since 2024, according to an announcement from the university’s athletics department. The appointment comes as the Eagles seek to rebuild their roster following a 2025-26 campaign that saw them finish with a 14-16 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, their lowest win total in five years.

Quinn’s arrival follows a national search led by head coach Matt McGinnis, who cited her experience as a player and coach at the Division I level as key to her selection. She most recently served as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky, where she worked alongside Hall of Fame coach Matthew Mitchell during the 2024-25 season. Before Kentucky, Quinn spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M, where she helped develop the program’s recruiting pipeline and assisted with player development.

Her hiring aligns with a broader trend in NCAA women’s basketball, where programs are increasingly prioritizing coaches with both playing and developmental experience. According to a 2026 survey by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, 68% of Division I programs reported filling assistant coach roles with candidates who had played at the collegiate level, up from 52% in 2022. Morehead State’s decision reflects this shift, as Quinn brings a player’s perspective to a staff that has historically relied on former coaches with limited playing backgrounds.

Why This Matters for Morehead State

Quinn’s appointment is particularly significant for Morehead State given the program’s recent struggles on the recruiting trail. The Eagles have failed to land a top-100 Division I recruit in the past two years, a trend that has contributed to their declining conference standing. In the 2025 OVC standings, Morehead State finished sixth, behind Eastern Kentucky and Austin Peay—both programs that have aggressively targeted high-school talent in the region.

Her recruitment of players from Kentucky and West Virginia, two states with deep basketball talent pools, could be critical. In her final season at Kentucky, Quinn helped land two commitments from the 2026 class, including a four-star guard from Lexington. If she replicates that success in Morehead, the program could see its first recruiting class ranked in the top 50 since 2022, according to 247Sports projections.

How Quinn’s Background Compares to Peers

Quinn’s hiring stands out when compared to other recent assistant coach additions in the OVC. For example, Eastern Kentucky hired former Morehead State assistant coach Jamie Carter in 2025, a move that created a direct pipeline between the two programs. Carter, who played for the Eagles from 2018 to 2022, brought institutional knowledge but lacked Quinn’s high-major coaching experience.

Meanwhile, Austin Peay’s staff added former Tennessee assistant coach Tasha Williams, who spent the past decade developing players in the SEC. While Williams’ credentials are strong, her transition to the OVC has been slower, with the Governors failing to improve their recruiting rank since her arrival. Quinn’s blend of D-I coaching experience and regional ties positions her as a potential outlier in the conference.

What Comes Next for the Eagles

The 2026-27 season will be Quinn’s first full campaign with the Eagles, and her impact will likely be measured in three key areas: roster development, recruiting, and in-game adjustments. McGinnis has emphasized that Quinn will take the lead on player development, a role that could address the program’s long-standing issue of inconsistent three-point shooting—Morehead State ranked last in the OVC in percentage last season, at 28.9%.

Her first major test will come during the 2026 preseason, when the Eagles host a pair of exhibition games against Mid-American Conference opponents. These matchups will provide an early look at how Quinn’s defensive schemes and offensive sets integrate with McGinnis’ system. If successful, the program could see its first winning record since 2023, when the Eagles went 20-12 under McGinnis’ first full season.

Quinn’s contract details were not disclosed by the university, but sources familiar with the hiring process indicate she will earn a salary in the range of $60,000 to $70,000 annually, competitive with other OVC assistant coaches. Her official title will be “Assistant Coach/Player Development,” reflecting her dual role in both on-court strategy and talent acquisition.

For now, the focus remains on the 2026-27 campaign, where Quinn’s ability to elevate Morehead State’s profile could determine whether the program breaks its recent losing streak. With the OVC realignment discussions ongoing, a stronger coaching staff and improved on-court performance could be critical in securing the program’s long-term stability.