University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Michael Ricks enters his second season leading the Alaska Nanooks women's basketball program in 2026-27, bringing an extensive coaching background and a track record of rebuilding programs and developing student-athletes on and off the court.

Ricks joined Alaska after leading successful turnarounds at Goucher College and Birmingham-Southern College. During the 2024-25 season at Goucher, he engineered a 13-win improvement, the largest turnaround in NCAA Division III that season. The program also ranked among the nation's leaders in several statistical categories, including scoring offense, bench production, steals and turnover margin.

Previously, Ricks led Birmingham-Southern to multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. During the 2015-16 season, he guided the Panthers through the nation's largest turnaround, building a defensive-minded team that captured a conference championship. Throughout his coaching career, his teams have produced numerous all-conference and all-region selections while competing at a high level.

Beyond on-court success, Ricks emphasizes mentorship, character development and academic achievement. His coaching philosophy centers on helping student-athletes grow both as competitors and as individuals while building a program grounded in sportsmanship, accountability and team culture.

Ricks holds advanced degrees in sports management and educational administration and has contributed to published coaching literature. He is also a longtime member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Ricks Career Head Coaching Record (14 Seasons): 176-225 (.439)
Record at Alaska: 0-26 (.000)