ESPN REPORT: Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Head Coach Niele Deirdre Jamillah Viveca Ivey Stuns College Basketball World, Rejects Jaw-Dropping $15.8 Million OCC Offer from Penn State, Tennessee Volunteers to Remain with Notre Dame; ‘I Have No Plans Beyond Being the Notre Dame Irish Head Coach’… Full Details
In a stunning move that has rocked the world of college basketball, Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Head Coach Niele Deirdre Jamillah Viveca Ivey has turned down a combined $15.8 million offer from two powerhouse programs—Penn State and the University of Tennessee. The offers were part of a joint OCC (Open Coaching Coalition) bid, aimed at luring one of the sport’s brightest coaching minds away from South Bend. Instead, Coach Ivey has emphatically reaffirmed her commitment to the Fighting Irish, declaring, “I have no plans beyond being the Notre Dame Irish head coach.”
This revelation comes amid intense speculation over Ivey’s future. Following a stellar season that saw Notre Dame reach the Elite Eight, several top programs were reportedly preparing lucrative packages to acquire her leadership. Both Penn State and Tennessee—two programs with deep women’s basketball traditions—believed they had a real shot. According to ESPN sources, the OCC package included a multi-year contract worth $15.8 million, complete with performance incentives, housing allowances, and full control over program operations.
But Ivey’s decision to stay wasn’t about the money—it was about legacy, loyalty, and love for the university that shaped her. A Notre Dame alumna and former point guard under Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw, Ivey has deep roots in the program. After serving as an assistant and later associate head coach for several years, she took over the reins in 2020 and has since revitalized the program, making Notre Dame a perennial contender once again.
In a press conference held at Purcell Pavilion, Ivey was visibly emotional as she addressed the rumors and made her intentions clear. “Notre Dame is home,” she said. “This university made me who I am—not just as a player or coach, but as a person. I am incredibly honored to lead these women, to mentor them, and to continue building something special. I turned down the offer not because it wasn’t flattering—it was—but because my heart is here.”
Her loyalty has earned admiration across the college basketball landscape. Several prominent figures, including South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and UConn’s Geno Auriemma, took to social media to praise Ivey’s decision. “That’s loyalty and vision right there,” tweeted Staley. “She’s building a dynasty her way.”
Sources close to Notre Dame’s athletic department confirmed that the university is preparing an extension and a new compensation package for Ivey, expected to include performance bonuses, expanded resources for recruitment and player development, and potential equity incentives tied to the growth of the program.
This news also sends a message to the rest of the NCAA: Notre Dame is committed to staying at the top, and they’re backing the coach who’s making it happen. With a top-5 recruiting class coming in and multiple returning starters, expectations for the upcoming season are sky-high.
As for Penn State and Tennessee, both programs will now return to their respective coaching searches, likely feeling the sting of a major miss. Ivey, meanwhile, remains laser-focused on her goals at Notre Dame. “We’re just getting started,” she said with a smile. “The best is yet to come.”
In an era where coaching changes are frequent and loyalty often takes a backseat to contracts and facilities, Niele Ivey’s decision stands out. Her commitment to Notre Dame is more than a headline—it’s a statement. And if the last few seasons are any indication, she’s not done making history in South Bend.