Delaware State women’s basketball is moving on from Jazmone Turner after two seasons leading the HBCU program. It ended a short tenure that produced 12 wins and raised new questions about the program’s direction. Turner was officially named DSU’s head coach in March 2024 after serving as interim coach during the 2023-24 season. (Delaware State University)
Delaware State turns the page
Turner confirmed to HBCU Gameday contributor Olivia Antilla that she is no longer with the program.
Her departure comes after a 2025-26 season in which Delaware State finished 7-23 overall and 4-10 in MEAC play. The Hornets went 5-8 at home, 2-13 on the road, and closed the season on a two-game losing streak. (Delaware State University)
That followed a difficult first full season in 2024-25. Delaware State went 5-24 overall and just 1-13 in the MEAC. The Hornets entered the conference tournament as the No. 7 seed and lost to Howard.
Those back-to-back seasons left Turner with a 12-47 mark over two years in charge.
A former interim coach who got the full-time role
Turner first stepped into a larger role in 2023, when Delaware State appointed her interim head coach. The school later removed the interim label and made her the permanent head coach on March 20, 2024, announcing the move publicly a few days later. (Delaware State University)
Before taking over at DSU, Turner had Division I experience as an assistant at Indiana State and as associate head coach at Coppin State. Delaware State’s official biography also notes that she joined the Hornets’ staff in July 2021.
She also arrived with a strong professional résumé. Turner was part of the WBCA’s 30 Under 30 class in 2019, a sign of how highly she was regarded within the coaching profession.
Transfer portal fallout begins
The coaching change is already having an effect on the roster.
Several DSU players have announced plans to enter the transfer portal, with social media posts pointing to the coaching change as a factor in their decisions, according to Antilla.
That leaves this HBCU searching for more than a new coach. It now has to stabilize a roster, retain remaining talent, and figure out how to compete in a MEAC that continues to demand quick turnarounds.
For Delaware State, the next hire now becomes a crucial one.