NEWARK — Delaware looked to one of its former women’s basketball coaches to find its new one.

Sarah Jenkins, a former associate head coach for the Blue Hens, was named the fifth women’s basketball head coach in the program’s history on Sunday.

She replaces Natsha Adair, who was hired as Arizona state’s head coach last week after leading Delaware to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.

Jenkins owns eight years of Division I coaching experience, spending the past year serving as an assistant coach at Penn State.

Jenkins will be officially introduced as the Hens’ new coach at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

“To come back to Delaware and lead the women’s basketball program is an exciting moment,” Jenkins was quoted in a press release.

“I am beyond thrilled to return to Delaware and take over as the head coach of one of the top programs not only in the Colonial Athletic Association but the region. ... I am excited to build upon the championship culture that has been established and can’t wait to get started.”

Jenkins spent four seasons on UD’s coaching staff under Adair. She held the title of assistant coach and recruiting coordinator (2017-20) before being elevated to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2020-21 season.

With Jenkins on staff , the Blue Hens were 71-50 overall and 46-26 in conference play.

“I could not be more excited to have Sarah return to Delaware as the head coach of our women’s basketball program,” said Delaware athletic director Chrissi Rawak. “She embodies our core values and believes in our mission. Sarah brings excellent experience and a commitment to developing young women on and off the court, a passion for the game of basketball, and knows how to win.

“I know we have found the right person to build upon our success on and off the court and I can not wait to partner with her to achieve that success!”
Jenkins was an assistant in the 2020-21 season when Delaware won the CAA regular-season title and WNIT Charlotte Region championship and finished with a 24-5 record.

Before coming to Delaware, Jenkins spent three seasons (2014-17) as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Georgetown. She helped guide the Hoyas to back-to-back WNIT appearances (2016-17) while developing a pair of All-BIG EAST selections, including BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Dorothy Adomako.

Jenkins spent more than eight years in the high school coaching ranks prior to her returning to Georgetown in 2014. She made stops at The Geneva School (Fla.) and Winter Park High School (Fla.) where she led her squads to a pair of district championships as well as two regional final appearances.

The Bowie, Md. native started her collegiate playing career at the Maryland but transferred to Georgetown where she played four seasons. As a student-athlete, Jenkins was a BIG EAST Academic All-Star and served as a two-year team captain.

Jenkins graduated with bachelor’s degrees in English and Sociology in 2005.