Dan Presel begins his fourth season as associate head coach and his 10th overall with the University of South Alabama, working primarily with Jaguar guards while developing the offensive system for the program and overseeing the program’s recruiting efforts in Alabama.
His efforts have helped South post a record of .500 or better over the last three years, including making back-to-back national postseason appearances while winning 20-plus games highlighted by a school-record 25 victories in 2018-19 after advancing to the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and reaching the second round of the WNIT.
Presel helped both Shaforia Kines (first-team) and Savannah Jones (third-team) earned all-league honors in 2019-20, with the duo ranking first and second in the Sun Belt in three-point field goals per game and three-point field-goal percentage while also ranking among the top 10 in scoring. Kines averaged a career-best 15.9 points per outing — which stood third in the conference — with Jones adding 13.9 per contest as both surpassed the 1,000-point mark and connected on the 200th three-pointer of their careers during the campaign.
His efforts the previous season helped Jones receive second-team all-conference recognition after she led the league and was among the top 10 in the country in three-point field-goal percentage while also ranking among the league leaders in scoring and three-pointers made per game. The year before that she became just the second player at South — Whitney Woodard was the first in 2003-04 — to be named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year; in her first full season of action on the court, Jones made 70 three-point baskets, third most all-time in program history for a single season, while her 400 points ranked as fourth most at USA. Jones’ 141 made field goals were the fifth most by a freshman in program history.
Presel helped Colby Davis finish second on the team in scoring and 24th in the Sun Belt during the 2016-17 season after she averaged 10.2 points per contest her final season at the collegiate level. Davis also ranked first in free-throw percentage (80.0%) and tied for 14th in assists (2.6 apg) with teammate Candice Williams. Fellow guard Genesis Perrymond led the team and was 11th in the league in assists (2.9 per game), 11th in three-pointers per game (1.5) and tied for 11th in total steals (47).
During the 2015-16 season, Marquita Daniels led the club in scoring (11.3 ppg) and steals (61) while ranking 17th and third, respectively, in the Sun Belt in those two categories on her way to picking up third-team all-conference accolades.
Breanna Hall became the second Jag to earn all-Sun Belt honors under Presel, garnering third team accolades at the conclusion of the 2014-15 season. Hall closed out her Jaguar career with an outstanding final season during the 2014-15 campaign. The Mesquite, Texas, native ranked among the conference leaders in numerous categories including leading the league in three-point shooting (40.8%), finishing second in three-pointers per game (2.37), third in free-throw percentage (.820) and sixth in scoring (15.4). Hall closed out the season ranked 27th nationally from behind the arc as well.
She also ended her career ranked in several single-season and career program lists. Her 64 three-pointers this season were tied with Sarda Peterson (2012) for fourth-most in a season and her 40.8 three-point percentage tied for seventh with Kim Pompey.
That same season, freshman guard Daniels etched her name in the top 10 on the program’s freshman record list: steals (second, 54), three-pointers made (fourth, 32), free throws (seventh, 64), and points (10th, 290). Daniels also set a new Mitchell Center record for points in a game by a South Alabama player with a 37-point effort versus Georgia State on Feb. 7, 2015.
During the 2013-14 season, the Jaguars led the Sun Belt in three-point percentage (35.4%), three-point field-goal defense (28.0%) and tied with Troy for most three-pointers per game (6.5). USA ended the season ranked 38th nationally in three-point shooting. Meghan Dunn — who led the club in scoring and three-pointers — earned third-team all-SBC honors at the end of the season.
Presel came to South Alabama after spending the seven seasons on Terry Fowler’s staff at North Alabama. During Presel’s tenure at UNA, the Lions qualified for the Gulf South Conference tournament every year and twice won the GSC East Division title — 2010-11 and 2012-13. UNA also earned a berth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament those same two seasons. The Lions were undefeated in league play during the 2010-11 season and made the program’s first appearance in the national tournament since 1994, finishing the year with a 21-7 mark. North Alabama recorded a 20-11 overall mark and a 12-6 record in the Gulf South in his final season with the Lions.
Aside from recruiting, Presel also handled strength and conditioning, as well as specific floor work for the guards for the Lions.
Presel spent the 2005-06 season as assistant women’s basketball coach at the Tennessee-Chattanooga, where the Lady Mocs put together the nation’s longest winning streak at 26 consecutive games.
Prior to rejoining Fowler at UNA, Presel spent six seasons at Spring Hill where he was part of Fowler’s staff.
Presel was a pitcher on the Spring Hill baseball team from 1996-99. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1999. He and his wife, the former Jill Mathias, who played for the Lady Badgers from 1996-2000, have a daughter, Rian, and a son, Reid.
