Gators' Kelly Rae Finley makes big-time hire, hosts five-star recruit

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Imagine Todd Golden adding the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero to his staff. That’s what Florida women’s basketball coach Kelly Rae Finley just pulled off with Rhyne Howard.

Finley completed her 2023-24 coaching staff on Monday by announcing the hiring of Howard, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, as an assistant coach and director of player personnel.

“It has always been important to me that we surround our student-athletes with people who can help equip them with the skills necessary to succeed as professionals on and off the court,” Finley said. “Rhyne is humble, competitive, thoughtful, and driven. … She is living many of our student-athlete’s dreams. Her knowledge of the game combined with her ability to teach and connect with them on and off the court will elevate our program.”

Howard plays for the Atlanta Dream and her new role at UF will span throughout her WNBA offseason, giving the Gators a chance to learn and interact with a successful pro player who once competed in their conference.

Howard spent her collegiate career at the University of Kentucky where she left as the program’s top 3-point shooter of all-time, earned two-time SEC Player of the Year, was selected as the SEC Tournament MVP in 2022, was named SEC Player of the Year by league coaches two years in a row (2020, 2021), and made All-SEC First Team by league coaches in all four of her years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).

Howard comes to Gainesville after leading the Dream to first round of the 2023 WNBA season playoffs. Howard averaging 17.5 a game in her second season. Her rookie year in the league was no different, earning WNBA All-Star, WNBA Kia Rookie of the Year, Associated Press Rookie of the Year, and being the first rookie in WNBA history to record four blocks and four three-pointers in their debut.

Howard has ties to Florida dating back to 1987-91 when her mother, Rhvonja (RJ) Avery, played for the Gators. She served a as captain in 1990-991 and still holds multiple program records. Avery is in the top 10 for career steals with 192, holds one of the highest field goal percentages in Gators history at .521 (176-344), is ranked 13th in career highs for rebounding with 777, and is the eighth-quickest Gator to score 1,000 career points, doing it in 76 games.

“When you really think about it everything is full circle, my mom was a Gator herself and I have been on this campus multiple times, but to actually be able to wear the orange and blue, I know it’s making her proud, I know it’s making everyone who thought I was originally going to be a Florida Gator proud,” Howard said of joining UF’s coaching staff. “I always knew at some point that I would have the connection back with this school and just to be here and to be loved and to feel how much of a family it is already just confirmed all that.”

Gators host the nation’s No. 3 recruit

In addition to the hiring of Howard, it was also a big weekend for Finley and her staff on the recruiting trail.

Florida hosted five-star point guard Jaloni Cambridge on campus. Cambridge is ranked the nation’s No. 3 overall recruit in the 2024 class, according to ESPN.

Finley and the Gators already hold a commitment from five-star point guard Alivia “Liv” McGill, who is No. 16 nationally in the ESPN recruiting rankings.

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McGill will be the second straight five-star signee for Finley, who landed the nation’s No. 19 recruit, freshman Laila Reynolds, in the 2023 class.