CSU Monterey Bay Athletics

The Cal State Monterey Bay women’s basketball program made a short jaunt down Highway 101 to find its new leader, naming Cal Poly Associate Head Coach Kerri Nakamoto the seventh head coach in Otter women’s basketball history in July, 2013.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Cal State Monterey Bay family,” says Nakamoto. “I give special thanks to Dr. Ronnie Higgs and the search committee. Every person I met on campus seemed to love the experience of being there and that really helps make it feel like the right fit for me.”

Nakamoto spent the past eight seasons helping Cal Poly become a perennial Big West Conference contender. The Mustangs captured the Big West regular season titles in 2011 and 2012 before earning an NCAA Tournament bid by winning the conference championship tournament title this past season.

Nakamoto served in a variety of capacities on the Cal Poly staff, including player development, academic advising and recruiting. In fact, she helped spearhead the recruiting efforts that produced the past four consecutive Big West Conference players of the year.

She’ll be joining an Otter team that has enjoyed its share of success over recent years. The Otters have advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament the past three seasons. They won the CCAA regular season championship in 2011 and the CCAA Tournament title in 2012.