Kristen Dowling, an assistant coach at Pepperdine University the last two seasons, has joined the CSUB women's basketball staff as its newest assistant coach, Head Coach Tim La Kose announced Monday. She replaces Amy Parrish, who left after one season to pursue another collegiate coaching opportunity.
"Kristen is a bright, energetic young coach," says La Kose. "She has a passion for the game and for the profession. She is going to add a lot to our program."
Dowling comes to Bakersfield after spending last season as Pepperdine's assistant coach and academic coordinator. She served as a graduate assistant coach on the Wave bench in 2007.
Dowling previously worked as a coach at the high school and youth level before joining Pepperdine's staff. Prior to joining the Waves' staff, she spent one season as the head coach of the freshman team at Upland High School. She also spent two years working with the Nothin' But Net Youth Basketball program, coordinating after school clinics, youth leagues, and AAU Tournaments.
Dowling played collegiately at the University of Redlands, where she led the Bulldogs to their second?ever Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2004. She was a four?year scholar athlete and helped Redlands win a WBCA Class Act Achievement Award.
A native of Upland, Dowling graduated from Upland High School. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Redlands, earning her bachelor's degree in Spanish with a minor in physical education. She went on to earn her master's in educational technology at Pepperdine. She also is a graduate of Nike's, So You Want to Be a Coach Program and the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy.
ROADRUNNER WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
MOVING ON UP: The California State University, Bakersfield athletics program is currently completing year two of transition to full NCAA Division I status. The Roadrunners began playing full NCAA Division I schedules starting with the 2007?08 season.
The move to the NCAA Division I level is a four?year process. Year three of transition will began on June 1, 2008. CSUB is on target to become a full NCAA Division I member on June 1, 2010.
CSUB FINISHES SECOND AT NCAA DIVISION I INDEPENDENT CHAMPIONSHIP: The Roadrunners put a nice cherry atop their first full NCAA Division I campaign by finishing second at the NCAA DI Independent Championship Tournament. Junior guard Kelley Tarver (Valencia HS) and senior forward Naomi Johnson (Oxnard College) were named to the all?tournament team.
'RUNNERS EARN FIRST WIN OVER NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAM: The 'Runners opened their first full NCAA Division I campaign by picking up a 76?66 win over the University of San Diego. USD ended the season by advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
In all, CSUB played four teams that went to the Big Dance in 2008: USD, Nebraska, UC Santa Barbara and Fresno State.
HEAD COACH TIM LA KOSE: Tim La Kose took the reins of the Roadrunner women's program in 2002 and has led the team to two CCAA titles (2003, '04), the 2003 NCAA West Region title and a gaudy 154?49 record (.759). He began his career at Cal Lutheran University where he led the Regals to a 136?67 record and five NCAA Division III Tournament bids.
