Centenary Names Rennie Bailey as New Women’s Basketball Head Coach

Big news for women’s college basketball—Rennie Bailey just took over as head coach of the Centenary women’s basketball program. David Orr, Centenary’s Director of Athletics and Recreation, made the announcement.

Bailey brings a ton of experience and some serious credentials to the team. He’s from Minden, Louisiana, and has spent more than 30 years coaching at both the college and high school levels.

Most recently, he worked with Southern University’s men’s team in Baton Rouge. That stint included helping the team snag the 2025 SWAC Regular Season Championship.

Bailey steps in for former head coach Paul Reed. He’s genuinely fired up to help the Centenary Ladies reach new levels of success.

Rennie Bailey’s Impressive Coaching Journey

Bailey’s coaching story stretches back decades and is packed with memorable moments. He got his start in 1988 at Nicholls State University, where he played a key role in signing and developing top talent.

He worked with Gerard King, who later made it to the NBA. In 1990, Bailey returned to Louisiana Tech—his alma mater—for the first of two runs as an assistant coach.

During that time, he helped recruit and develop P.J. Brown, another player who eventually landed in the NBA.

Success at Panola College

From 1993 to 2000, Bailey took the reins as head coach at Panola College in Carthage, Texas. The junior college league there is no joke, but he managed to turn things around for the program.

Panola reached the Texas Eastern Conference Tournaments in each of his final three seasons. Seven of his players moved on to four-year schools, which says a lot about his knack for developing talent.

Rebuilding Programs and Achieving Success

Bailey kept rebuilding programs wherever he went. At Stephen F. Austin from 2000 to 2004, he started with a rough 22-32 record in his first two years.

But by years three and four, the Lumberjacks posted a combined 42-17 record. They finished second in the Southland Conference and made it to the conference tournament finals in 2003-04.

Triumph with the Ragin’ Cajuns

From 2004 to 2007, Bailey joined the coaching staff at UL-Lafayette. He helped the Ragin’ Cajuns win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship and clinch a spot in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

He just kept proving he could lead teams to big moments.

Return to Louisiana Tech and High School Coaching

Bailey returned to Louisiana Tech for another full-time stint from 2007 to 2008. After that, he volunteered as a coach at Cedar Creek High School in Ruston.

His willingness to coach at different levels really shows how much he loves the game. Bailey’s commitment to basketball stands out, whether he’s coaching college stars or high school hopefuls.

Looking Ahead: Bailey’s Vision for Centenary

Bailey just stepped in as the head coach of the Centenary women’s basketball program, and honestly, you can tell he’s excited about what’s next. He thanked President Dr. Holoman and Athletic Director David Orr for trusting him with the job.

He’s got a pretty straightforward goal: take the Centenary Ladies to the level of success they deserve. You can feel his energy and commitment to the team already.

Bailey’s got years of experience, a solid reputation, and plenty of friends in the basketball world. David Orr seems genuinely confident that Bailey’s the right person for the job.

Bailey can’t wait to get the team together on campus and start building something special. There’s a sense of optimism around Centenary women’s basketball right now.