Pacific extends head coach Damon Stoudamire through 2025-26 after historic season

Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images

Damon Stoudamire’s head coaching career has been a huge success so far.

After leading the Pacific Tigers to one of the best seasons in program history, the school extended the former Arizona Wildcats guard through the 2025-26 season on Wednesday.

The University of Pacific is a private institution, so the terms of the contract are unknown.

“In just four years, Coach Stoudamire has energized our men’s basketball program, making it a true point of pride for our university and community,” athletic director Janet Lucas said in a statement. “The vision and leadership that he provides is making a difference on the court, in the classroom, and in the lives of our student-athletes. We are excited about Damon continuing to lead this program and build on their success for years to come.”

The Tigers went 23-10 in 2019-20, good for third place in the West Coast Conference and their highest win total in a decade. Stoudamire was named the WCC Coach of the Year, beating out Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Saint Mary’s Randy Bennett, and BYU’s Mark Pope.

Stoudamire also won the 2019-20 Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year award, given to the top minority head coach in Division I basketball.

“I truly am so happy for coach Stoudamire,” associate head coach Leonard Perry said in a statement. “When we arrived here four years ago and realized exactly where the program was, we got straight to work. Every time we hit a bump in the road, coach would remind us of our goal. He takes as much pride in student-athletes off the floor and how they act in the class room and in their community as he does when they are on the floor competing. I look forward to continuing what he’s built here throughout our program at UOP.”

Stoudamire has compiled a 62-68 record in four seasons at Pacific. That might not sound like much, but the Tigers went just 8-20 in the season before his arrival and were facing NCAA sanctions.

Stoudamire said in a statement that he is excited to be in Stockton for six more years, though at this rate it won’t be long before he’s coaching in a major conference.

“I want to thank the Pacific administration for giving me my first head coaching opportunity,” Stoudamire said in a statement. “Things like this happen when you work with good people and my staff has been a big part of our success…As we head into a new era of leadership under Chris Callahan and Janet Lucas, I look forward to continuing to develop young men in not only the game of basketball, but life as well.”

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