PINE BLUFF, Ark. β Dawn Thornton stepped down as Arkansas-Pine Bluff's women's basketball head coach to accept the same position at a fellow Southwestern Athletic Conference school.
On Saturday, Thornton was introduced as Alabama A&M's head coach. This season, the Aggies finished fifth in the SWAC, one game behind the Lady Lions.
"I have a great deal of respect for Dawn Thornton," said Chris Robinson, Arkansas-Pine Bluff's vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics. "I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Thorton for her hard work and dedication as the head coach of our women's basketball program."
In five seasons, Thornton guided UAPB to its first SWAC championship game since joining the conference and set a new record for overall wins this past season with a 17-16 record.
The Lady Lions secured victories against SMU and Arkansas and reached the SWAC Tournament semifinals.
"Her contributions over the course of five seasons have had a significant impact on our campus and the community," Robinson said. "The future of UAPB women's basketball program is bright, and we are confident that our next head coach will continue to elevate the program to new heights."
The university said assistant coach Nicole Mealing will serve as the Lady Lions' interim head coach while a national search begins for a new head coach.
