Green, 36, coached under Jabir from 2012-15 and left after the Elite Eight seasons to take an assistant coaching job at Northwestern. She spent one season with the Wildcats.
“Obviously I’m completely thrilled to be back here,” Green said. “I loved it here. I had such a great three years. It moved very quickly. What’s happened and how it all transpired … just Friday I was on a home visit for Northwestern. Then I flew down here. You talk about 48 hours and the changes and the differences, it’s been crazy, but it’s awesome. I’m ready to get to work and hit the ground running. With the timing, thee’s no other option, which is good. Just dive right in.”
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Green was as surprised by everyone by Jabir’s decision to step down for health reasons.
“When I heard, I just wanted to make sure Coach was OK,” she said. “I reached out to him right away. I was sad. I had the same emotions everyone had. I was away for a year but still felt connected and kept in touch with everyone.”
Green left Dayton for Northwestern in part to be closer to her family. She and her husband Andy have a 2-year-old son, Matteo. Green is from Clinton, Iowa. That’s a little over two hours from Chicago, or a lot closer than Dayton.
Green also left to learn in a different environment and to grow as a coach.
“It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made in my professional career to leave here because I loved it,” Green said. “We were coming off the Elite Eight. Coach Jabir and I talked about it. I just figured I could go to the Big Ten and learn from coach (Joe) McKeown, who has over 600 wins, and learn another system.”
Green will keep all of Jabir’s staff. Simon Harris and Arnika Edwards were on the staff two seasons ago when she was. Kayla Ard and Jeff House were hired by Jabir in the spring of 2015 after she left.
Green’s plan is to continue what Jabir started. He’s the program’s all-time winningest coach. The Flyers reached the NCAA tournament six straight seasons, a streak that ended last season. They brought in a highly-ranked freshman class this season.
Green’s fourth game as UD coach will be against Connecticut, the last team the Flyers faced in 2014-15, her last season at UD. The Flyers lost 90-71 to the Huskies in the Elite Eight.
“My mentality is going to be same as when I was here,” Green said. “We’re trying to win the A-10 championship and make the NCAA tournament.”
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