Jax State hiring legendary Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin to lead women’s basketball program

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Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin directs his team against Brilliant during the AHSAA 1A girls basketball final at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Will McLelland | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin tracks his team during the AHSAA Class 1A girls state championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin works with his team during the Spring Garden vs. R.C. Hatch AHSAA 1A girls basketball semifinal at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin works with his team during the Spring Garden vs. R.C. Hatch AHSAA 1A girls basketball semifinal at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin signals in during the Winterboro vs. Spring Garden AHSAA girls 1A regional semifinal playoff game in Jacksonville, Ala., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
(Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin works with his team during the Winterboro vs. Spring Garden AHSAA girls 1A regional semifinal playoff game in Jacksonville, Ala., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
(Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)

Spring Garden players race to grab the trophy from coach Ricky Austin during the AHSAA Class 1A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin hugs Spring Garden's Ace Austin as they celebrates a championship after the AHSAA Class 1A girls championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin cheers his team during the AHSAA Class 1A girls championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin signals in during the AHSAA Class 1A girls championship at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin directs his team against Elba during the AHSAA Class 1A girls state semifinals at BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin signals in during the Spring Garden vs. Skyline AHSAA girls 1A regional final playoff game in Jacksonville, Ala., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
(Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin coaches his players during an AHSAA Class 1A championship game at BJCC's Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden's Ace Austin talks with coach Ricky Austin during an AHSAA Class 1A championship game at BJCC's Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023. (Vasha Hunt | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin tracks the action during a 1A regional playoff game in Jacksonville, Ala., Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.
(Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin celebrates his victory over St. Luke's in the AHSAA Class 1A championship game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Mark Almond | preps@al.com

MVP Spring Garden's Neely Welsh hugs coach Ricky Austin after beating St. Luke's during the AHSAA Class 1A championship game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin and players celebrate the victory over St. Luke's in the AHSAA Class 1A championship game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (Mark Almond | preps@al.com

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin directs his team against St. Luke's during a Class 1A AHSAA Basketball Championship semifinal at the BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Feb. 25, 2019. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)

Spring Garden coach Ricky Austin works with his boys during a Class 1A AHSAA Basketball Championship semifinal at the BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Monday, Feb. 25, 2019.
(Photo by Vasha Hunt)

Jacksonville State will turn to one of the most accomplished high school basketball coaches in the state of Alabama to lead its women’s basketball program.

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