Florida Gators’ women’s basketball head coach, Kelly Rae Finley, is expecting a baby boy in April. The news comes after a heartwarming moment during the LSU vs. Florida game, where LSU’s head coach, Kim Mulkey, presented Finley with a gift to celebrate the upcoming arrival of her baby. This thoughtful gesture highlights the camaraderie and respect between the two coaches, despite their teams’ rivalry.
Finley has been leading the Florida Gators since 2021, when she took over as the interim head coach and later became the 11th head coach of the program. Under her guidance, the team has achieved significant success, including a 2024-2025 season that saw them dominate the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Her leadership and coaching philosophy, which emphasizes player development and teamwork, have earned her recognition as one of the top coaches in the game.
Finley’s impressive work has been acknowledged with several awards, including the 2025 Naismith Coach of the Year Award, which comes with a $2 million prize. This recognition is a testament to her dedication and innovative approach to the sport. Her achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring female coaches and athletes, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, barriers can be broken and dreams can be realized.
Finley graduated from Colorado State University in 2008 with a degree in human development and family studies. She began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Harvard and later worked as an assistant coach at Colorado and Arizona. Her experience and expertise have helped shape her into a successful coach, and her commitment to her student-athletes extends beyond the court, focusing on their overall development and well-being.
