JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday evening, the Jacksonville City Council officially presented a resolution honoring the Jacksonville University women's basketball team and its accomplishments during its title season in 2025-26.
The Dolphins, who won the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, were honored in the City Council chambers for their on-the-court success. Jacksonville women's basketball won a program-record 24 games while claiming not only a conference tournament title but also a berth to the NCAA Women's Tournament for the first time in 10 years.
"Whereas the Jacksonville University Dolphins Women's Basketball Team's achievement brings pride and national recognition to the City of Jacksonville and serves as an inspiration for student-athletes throughout Northeast Florida," the resolution read, "Now, therefore be it resolved by the City of Jacksonville: The City Council hereby honors the Jacksonville University Women's Basketball Team for their victory in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship and congratulates the players, coaches and staff for their extraordinary accomplishment."
In doing so, Jacksonville represented Duval County on ESPN as a #15 seed against #2-ranked LSU, playing on the largest platform in women's college basketball and representing Jacksonville on the national stage.
JU earned its way there playing their ASUN Conference Tournament games at Jacksonville's VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
"Jacksonville University has produced extraordinary people and moments over its 92-year history, and this women's basketball team has added a chapter that will not be forgotten," said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. "To watch Artis Gilmore — the greatest Dolphin of them all — cheering courtside all season long, and to see these young women earn a championship through talent, determination and character, was a special blend of past and present. We are deeply grateful to the City Council for this honorable recognition of a team whose winning ways created an energy across our campus and throughout the city of Jacksonville."
Leading the charge for the Dolphins was head coach Special Jennings, who received one of the written honors from Council Member Ken Amaro, who represents District 1 where Jacksonville University resides. After her championship run in only her third season at the helm, Jennings signed a new contract to stay courtside for the 'Phins.
"This recognition belongs to so many people," Jennings said at the meeting. "Thank you so much. This is a great honor. I have been known to win more than one, and that is my hope to be back here again."
Jennings was joined by members of her staff along with Jacksonville Senior Vice President and Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert and Senior Vice President of External Affairs Scott Bacon, along with members of the Jacksonville support staff. At the conference level, ASUN Commissioner Jeff Bacon and Senior Associate Commissioner Joseph Kaminski attended the meeting.
Ricker-Gilbert has already seen the transformational impact Jennings and the women's basketball program has provided to Jacksonville University in just a few short years.
"We would like to thank the entire city council," Ricker-Gilbert said at the meeting. "It means a great deal to us. It means a great deal to our young women. Games are played. Championships are won. What we always hope with our young women is that they represent the university well, the city well and make the city proud. And we have the right leader in Special Jennings."
On the court, Jennings helped coach ASUN Player of the Year Priscilla Williams and ASUN Freshman of the Year Tatum Brown. Williams' name will forever be etched within the resolution, as her 13-point and 16-rebound night against Austin Peay helped seal Jacksonville's overtime championship victory and automatic qualification into The Big Dance.
Tuesday's resolution was introduced by Council Members Amaro, Rahman Johnson, Chris Miller, Ju'Coby Pittman, Will Lahnen, Joe Carlucci, Nick Howland, Terrance Freeman, Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Kevin Carrico and co-sponsored by Council Members Ronald B. Salem and Randy White.
