Georgia Southern University Director of Athletics Jared Benko and head women’s basketball coach Anita Howard have come to a mutual agreement that a change of leadership in the women’s basketball program has been made. Howard led the Eagles over the past five seasons. The Eagles finished the 2023-24 season with a 15-18 overall record after falling in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The team finished 4-14 in SBC play. Howard leaves Statesboro with a 75-71 overall record.Georgia Southern University releasing the following statements on Howard's departure:“I would like to thank Anita Howard for her contributions to our women’s basketball program over the past five seasons,” Benko said. “We are grateful for her service and commitment to our student-athletes here at Georgia Southern.”“I want to thank Eagle Nation for your support during my tenure,” Howard said. “We’ve accomplished great things together and laid a solid foundation for future success to come. My contributions to this University and team have left this program in a better place than when I arrived. I wish nothing but the best for this University, the fans and especially my players­—current and past. As I look to spread my wings elsewhere, I have faith that I did my best, and the best is yet to come.”Howard was announced as the head coach of the Georgia Southern women's basketball in March of 2019 and marked the eighth head coach in program history. Her hiring made her the first African American female head coach of Georgia Southern women's basketball and, in essence, returned her home as Howard graduated from Armstrong State University in 2003, which consolidated with Georgia Southern in 2017. Georgia Southern Athletics tells WJCL 22 a nationwide search for a new head coach begins immediately and the department will not comment further on the search for the next head coach until the process is complete.