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Colleen Matsuhara, who has coached at such local women's basketball programs as the Los Angeles Sparks, UCLA, UC Irvine, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton, begins her second season with the USC women's basketball program. Named an assistant coach for the team by head coach Chris Gobrecht in July of 2000, Matsuhara's responsibilities include overseeing the individual development of the players.
"Colleen has certainly been one of the pioneers of women's basketball on the West Coast," said Gobrecht. "We feel very honored that she brought her talents, knowledge and wealth of experiences to our coaching staff and the Women of Troy because she is one of the most respected coaches in the game."
Matsuhara has 23 years of coaching experience. Most recently, she spent two seasons (1998-99) as an assistant with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks who advanced to the 1999 Western Conference semifinals.
Before the Sparks, she was the head coach at UC Irvine for six seasons (1992-1997), and was honored as the 1995 Big West Coach of the Year after her Anteaters won the Big West Tournament and made the only NCAA tournament appearance in program history.
She began her coaching career as an assistant at Cal State Fullerton from 1975-77, then was an assistant at UCLA for three years (1978-80) as the Bruins won the 1978 AIAW national championship. She next served as Nebraska's head coach through the 1983 season.
From 1983 to 1985, Matsuhara was an assistant athletic director at UCLA, handling event management and scheduling for 12 sports. During that time she was the secretariat of competition for men's and women's basketball at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Matsuhara returned to coaching as an assistant at Texas for four years (1986-89). The Lady Longhorns were the Southwest Conference champions and SWC tourney titlists each year. In 1986, Texas won the NCAA crown, beating a Cheryl Miller-led USC team in the championship game.
She moved to Long Beach State as an assistant for the 1991 season -- the 49ers were the Big West co-champs, won the Big West tournament and advanced to the NCAA West Regional semifinals -- before she took over at UCI.
Among her experiences, Matsuhara has also held a variety of international coaching positions: a four-time head court coach at the Olympic Festival Trials (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995), assistant coach to the USA junior national select team (1992), an assistant coach for the 1987 gold medal-winning Pan-American Games team, an assistant coach to the gold medal-winning USA junior national team (1982), the director of the ABA-USA Invitational Tournament (1979) and a USCSC staff member of the 1979 Women's Pre-World University Games.
Besides coaching and athletics administration, Matsuhara has worked in the entertainment and media industry. In 1999, she served as the cast basketball coach and technical advisor for director Gina Prince-Bythewood's feature film, "Love and Basketball," where she trained and coached lead actress, Sanaa Lathan. For the past two seasons (1999-2000), she has also been the color analyst and sideline reporter for UCLA women's basketball radio broadcasts.
Last summer, Matsuhara trained and coached actors Vivica A. Fox, Miguel Nunez and Kim Wayans prior to their on-location shooting of the comedy movie, "Juwanna Mann."
As a player, she was a three-year starter at Sacramento (Calif.) State after transferring from Sacramento City College in 1970. In 1999 she was inducted to the SCC Hall of Fame for her accomplishments.
Matsuhara received her associate's degree from Sacramento City College in 1970 and her bachelor's degree in psychology and physical education at Sacramento State in 1974. She did graduate work in physical education/sports administration at Cal State Fullerton.
Born in Sacramento, Calif., Matsuhara currently resides in Culver City.
