A New Chapter for Campbell Basketball
Campbell University announced on May 15, 2026, that Ali Jaques would take the reins of the women's basketball program, becoming the fifth head coach in school history and the third to lead the team in the NCAA Division I era since 1986.
Jaques arrives with almost 30 years of Division I coaching experience, including nine seasons as head coach at Siena College where she guided the Saints to a national championship in the Women's Basketball Invitational in 2015. Her most recent role was associate head coach at Rhode Island, a program that captured a school‑record 28 wins and earned an NCAA Tournament berth during each of the past two seasons.
The new coach brings a strong emphasis on developing student‑athletes into leaders both on and off the court. She has compiled 116 career victories as a head coach and previously secured a national player title while at New York University, where she also earned a place on the Dean's List for four consecutive years.
Jaques is known for her energetic presence, confidence, and genuine enthusiasm for building something special in Buies Creek. Under her guidance at Rhode Island, the Rams captured the Atlantic 10 tournament and received an 11‑seed in the NCAA Tournament, with every postseason award category represented for the first time in program history.
Her coaching journey includes stints as associate head coach at George Washington under Joe McKeown, as well as roles at Seton Hall, Dayton, Furman, Sacred Heart and Rider. At George Washington, she helped the Buff & Blue to a 55‑11 record and consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, with the team ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP Poll.
Jaques also coached two BIG EAST All‑Conference players — Lauren Park‑Lane and Sidney Cooks — who earned first‑team and second‑team honors respectively. She previously mentored talent at Siena, where she led the Saints to a WBI championship in 2014‑15.
Beyond the court, Jaques is married to Marc Rybczyk, and she remains committed to fostering academic excellence and community engagement among her players.