Nicci Hays Fort serves as Director of Recruiting, Influence and Branding Strategy for University of Oklahoma's Women's Basketball program in Norman, Oklahoma. Fort enters her second season on the Oklahoma women’s basketball staff in 2025-26. She was named the Sooners’ director of recruiting, influence and branding strategy on August 27, 2024, joining head coach Jennie Baranczyk’s staff.
In her first season in Norman, Hays Fort played a key role in securing the nation’s No. 15 recruiting class, which featured three top-70 prospects, including the nation’s top-ranked player and Gatorade National Player of the Year, Aaliyah Chavez. A former head coach with over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, Hays Fort came to Oklahoma after eight seasons at Drake, including five under Baranczyk. In her role at OU, she leads the program’s recruiting strategy and student-athlete retention efforts while overseeing influence and branding initiatives. She collaborates with campus and community stakeholders to strengthen the program’s visibility and engagement and serves as the primary contact for NIL opportunities and related partnerships.
