Breaking News: Georgia Tech Extends Head Coach Nell Fortner Through 2029-30 Season

Georgia Tech Women’s Basketball is in the midst of a historic season, and head coach Nell Fortner is set to continue leading the Yellow Jackets for years to come. The university announced today that Fortner has agreed to a three-year contract extension, securing her position as the head coach through the 2029-2030 season.

“It is a great privilege to have one of the most distinguished and successful coaches in women’s basketball history leading our program at Georgia Tech,” said J Batt, Georgia Tech’s director of athletics. “Coach Fortner is a first-class representative of the Institute, on and off the court, and she recruits, develops student-athletes, and wins at a high level. We’re excited that she will continue to lead our women’s basketball program for the foreseeable future.”

Now in her sixth season at Georgia Tech, Fortner has compiled a 106-68 (.609) record at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. This season, the team is off to an 18-4 start—its best in program history—while securing five victories over top-50 teams in the NCAA NET rankings. After entering the season unranked, the Jackets have surged to No. 17 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

A key part of Tech’s success has been its highly touted recruiting classes under Fortner, including this season’s freshman group, which ranked No. 10 nationally by BTN Scouting. Among the standout newcomers is Dani Carnegie, a leading candidate for National Freshman of the Year. Carnegie has earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors five times and leads all conference freshmen in scoring with 14.9 points per game.

Fortner’s coaching pedigree is among the most accomplished in the sport. She was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2020-21, marking the third time she earned Coach of the Year honors in a major conference—having previously won in the Big Ten (1996-97 with Purdue) and SEC (2008-09 with Auburn). Over her 15-year collegiate coaching career, she has amassed a 268-185 (.592) overall record, including stints at Purdue and Auburn.

Beyond the college ranks, Fortner has an impressive international and professional coaching resume. She led the U.S. women’s national team to gold medals at both the 1998 FIBA World Championships and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. With a 101-14 record, she remains the winningest head coach in USA women’s basketball history. Fortner also served as the head coach and general manager of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever from 2001-03.

Under her leadership, Georgia Tech has returned to national prominence, earning three postseason berths in four opportunities, including a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2020-21—the program’s second-ever appearance at that stage. That season, Tech finished ranked No. 22 nationally, marking just the second time in school history the team earned a postseason ranking.

With her contract extension in place, Fortner is set to build on Georgia Tech’s success, further solidifying the program as a contender in the ACC and beyond. The Yellow Jackets will look to continue their remarkable season as they push toward the NCAA Tournament with high aspirations.