AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn University has announced the appointment of Larry Vickers as the new head coach of its women’s basketball team. The announcement came on Sunday, following the departure of former coach Johnnie Harris, who was let go after Auburn’s 60-50 defeat to Florida in the Southeastern Conference Tournament’s opening round.
Larry Vickers, who joins Auburn from Norfolk State, has had a commendable coaching career, leading his team to back-to-back Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles and securing spots in the NCAA Tournament over the past three seasons. Vickers will step into the role with a wealth of experience, having guided the Norfolk State women’s team since 2016 and amassing an impressive record of 177-99. His coaching career began as an assistant with the men’s basketball program at Norfolk State in 2008.
Auburn’s athletic director, John Cohen, expressed confidence in Vickers’ capabilities, highlighting his strong technical grasp of women’s basketball. Cohen stated, “Coach Vickers has an incredible technical understanding of women’s basketball. He demands excellence from his student-athletes while fostering an environment for young women to succeed. His understanding of the new landscape of college athletics is impressive. No one has worked harder for an opportunity like this than Coach Vickers.”
Norfolk State, under Vickers’ leadership, earned a No. 13 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, although they were eliminated in the first round by Maryland, who held the fourth seed, with a final score of 82-69.
Upon his appointment, Vickers shared his enthusiasm, stating, “Auburn is a great institution with one of the best athletics programs in the country. I am excited to get to work and help bring championship-level success to our women’s basketball program.”