San Jose State names former Cal assistant Phillips new women’s basketball coach

April Phillips, a former Cal assistant coach who final season helped Texas win its first Huge 12 match title in 19 seasons, has been named San Jose State’s new girls’s basketball coach.

Phillips has been often known as a robust recruiter for years and she or he helped the Longhorns earn the No. 7 recruiting class within the nation this previous season. Texas coach Vic Schaefer highlighted Phillips’ recruiting acumen and her work with put up gamers in serving to Texas attain the Elite Eight, the place they misplaced 59-50 to Stanford.

“April is not going to solely make a terrific impression on the campus, however she may also impression her group, the college and the state of California,” Schaefer stated within the press launch. It has been a blessing and an honor for us to have her right here this previous season. Her dedication and keenness for the sport and our student-athletes shall be sorely missed.”

Previous to that, Phillips spent six seasons on the West Coast in a wide range of roles. Phillips was the recruiting coordinator for Cal for 2 seasons, serving to the Bears signal the No. 6 class within the nation in 2019-20. She additionally spent a season at Arizona in 2018-19, part of the employees that led the Wildcats to a WNIT championship. She additionally coached present WNBA participant Aari McDonald whereas in Tucson.

“I'm so pleased for Coach April,” McDonald stated within the press launch. “She’s so deserving of this job. I've little question that she's going to take this program to new heights. She coaches with ardour, is a real particular person, and is relational along with her gamers. I want her nothing however the most effective.”

The longest teaching cease in her profession was at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles — the place she’s nonetheless a scholar, pursuing a grasp’s in greater schooling — spending three seasons as affiliate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

Philips grew up in Southern California, graduating from Lengthy Seaside Polytechnic Excessive Faculty, earlier than going east to play collegiately. She spent one season at Georgia Tech earlier than transferring to Xavier.

As soon as in Cincinnati, she participated in each basketball and observe and subject — the place she received a convention title in shot put. On the court docket, Phillips helped the Musketeers go 30-4 in 2010 and attain the Elite Eight, the place Xavier misplaced 55-53 to Stanford.

Phillips replaces Jamie Craighead Turner, who was fired after 9 seasons with the Spartans. San Jose State went 89-160, together with 5-25 this season beneath Turner.

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