University of North Texas Athletics
Women’s Basketball Adds Yannick Denson to Coaching Staff
5/26/2026 10:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DENTON, Texas – UNT women's basketball head coach Jason Burton has announced the hiring of Yannick Denson as associate coach.
"Yannick brings a wealth of experience to us as an assistant coach, associate head coach and head coach at various levels," Burton said. "He did a tremendous job at Abilene Christian the last two years in recruiting, post development and serving as their defensive coordinator. He's a high energy guy and he's about people. I'm excited for how he fits our Mean Green culture and for all that he will bring."
Denson brings a versatile background to the UNT staff, having coached from high school to the Division I level throughout the past decade.
"I'm honored to join the UNT women's basketball family," Denson said. "A program with pride, tradition and a winning mindset. I'm excited to get to work with Coach Burton and help build something special in Denton."
Most recently, Denson spent the past two seasons on the Abilene Christian coaching staff, first in an assistant capacity before being elevated to associate head coach. He also maintained the title of recruiting coordinator while serving as the lead tactician behind ACU's successful defensive efforts that helped it compile a 46-24 record and reach back-to-back national postseason tournaments.
The 2025-26 campaign saw the Wildcats win 24 games, their most since 2020, and come within a victory of the NCAA Tournament as runner-up at the WAC conference championship. Under Denson's guidance, Abilene Christian led the league in scoring defense and ranked 21st in the country in turnovers forced per game as it eventually reached the Super 16 of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. Denson also helped coach Payton Hull to an incredible season that garnered WAC Player of the Year honors and several single-season program records, including points, field goals and steals.
The year prior, ACU posted a 22-13 record and won two games in the WNIT to reach the Super 16 for the first time in program history. A pair of Wildcats earned All-WAC recognition alongside one selection to the All-Defensive Team as Denson's defense forced 21.5 turnovers per game, good for 14th in the nation, and ranked 30th in steals per game.
Before joining the Wildcat program, Denson spent three seasons as an assistant coach at College of Charleston. The Cougars won at least 18 games twice with Denson on staff, a stretch capped off by 22 victories during the 2023-24 campaign and the program's first berth to a national postseason tournament since 2014.
Denson arrived at College of Charleston following three years as the head coach for Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. His teams combined for 32 total wins, including a 10-7 showing in 2020-21, and qualified for the American Southwest Conference Tournament each season. Under Denson's guidance, Chelsey Harris became a two-time First Team All-Conference honoree while three others were selected to the Second Team. He also recruited a pair of ASC West Freshman of the Year winners in Bria Neal and Amanda Turpin.
In addition, Denson served as an assistant coach and video coordinator at UT Rio Grande Valley during the 2017-18 season.
Denson began his coaching career in the high school ranks, first working as an assistant at Westbury Christian School for two years before taking over as head coach at Legacy Christian Academy in Beaumont, Texas, from 2015-17. In two seasons at LCA, Denson guided the program to a 57-11 overall record and two trips to the state finals before capturing the state championship in 2017. He was named the 2016 Super Gold Girls Basketball Coach of the Year and coached Alexis Morris, who was a McDonald's All-American and drafted 22nd overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
A 2014 graduate from Lamar University, Denson was a student assistant on the women's basketball team for four seasons. He finished with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.
