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Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball: Jackets find new coach in Nell Fortner

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A general view as the ball goes in the basket during the 2017 NBL Blitz pre-season match between the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets at Werribee Basketball Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: A general view as the ball goes in the basket during the 2017 NBL Blitz pre-season match between the Cairns Taipans and Brisbane Bullets at Werribee Basketball Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images) /
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Former Team USA coach and SEC Coach of the Year Nell Fortner will take over as the new head coach of the Georgia Tech women’s basketball program.

Georgia Tech has found their next head women’s basketball coach, tabbing former Auburn and Purdue head coach Nell Fortner.

Fortner, a former Team USA coach and SEC Coach of the Year will take over for the fired MaChelle Joseph. Fornter last coached in the 2011-12 season for Auburn where she collected a record of 145-106 over the course of eight seasons. Since 2012 she’s been an active broadcaster for ESPN and the Longhorn Network.

Fortner overall in her career will enter her time at Georgia Tech with a career record of 305-187. A lot of that success came during her time as the head coach of Team USA from 1997 to 2000 where she collected a record of 101-14.

Fortner will enter her tenure at Georgia Tech with the chance to make a strong NCAA Tournament run next season as the Jackets return an experienced and deep team including the ACC’s Rookie of the Year this past season Elizabeth Balogun. The Jackets should be one of the best team’s in the ACC next year from a talent perspective.

This past season, the Jackets got off to a great start but struggled in conference play, finishing with an overall record of 17-13 and a conference and 7-9 in conference play. They did not play in any postseason tournament, denying their invitation to play in the WNIT. Fornter will look to return the Yellow Jackets in 2019-20 to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season when the Jackets made a run to the Sweet Sixteen.