AVE MARIA, FLA. — The Ave Maria University Athletic Department is excited to name Jelani Akil as the head coach of the Gyrene Women's Basketball program.

"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Jelani back home to the AMU campus," said Vice President of Athletics John Weisbrod. "He was one of our program's most accomplished players, and I believe that his deep foundation in both the game and the knowledge of what it takes to flourish as a student athlete at Ave Maria will prove to serve both he and his players quite well."

Akil played on the men's basketball team in all four of his years at Ave Maria, seeing action in 88 games.

In his senior year, he served as team captain and started in all 29 games. He logged 1000 minutes, averaging 12.5 points and eight rebounds per game. Off the court, he was named to the Second Team All-Sun Conference and was selected as the Sun Conference's Champion of Character for exemplifying the NAIA's core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. At the conclusion of that tremendous senior season, he was awarded the Men's Basketball Leadership Award, was named the team's Most Valuable Player and honored as Ave Maria's Male Athlete of the Year.

"Really excited for the hiring of Jelani," said Men's Basketball head coach Jamon Copeland, who recruited Akil to play for the Gyrenes back in 2011. "He was a phenomenal player and [I] just loved him when I recruited him. Just his motor, the way he develops relationships, he was an incredible teammate and was really coachable, and I think all those aspects will make him an incredible head coach. [I'm] excited to watch how he builds the women's program and I think he is going to do a fantastic job."

Akil graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Minor in Mathematics and Family & Society from Ave Maria in 2015. Since that time, he has worked as a financial advisor for both Edward Jones and Fidelity Investments in Arizona.

Akil takes over a Gyrene team that has made the Sun Conference Tournament in nine consecutive seasons.

The 2025-26 season begins on the road for Ave Maria as they take a trip up to Montgomery Alabama to play in the Jimmy Faulkner Classic. The Gyrenes first home game at the Tom Golisano Field House is scheduled for November 15 when they take on the Webber Warriors.