PACIFIC COACH GETS EXTENSION
After his most successful season as the men’s basketball coach at University of Pacific, Damon Stoudamire received a contract extension that will keep him in Stockton until the 2025-2026 season.
“I am excited to know I’ll be in Stockton for another six years,” said Stoudamire. “I want to thank the Pacific administration for giving me my first head coaching opportunity. 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.”
Stoudamire, 46, said he is grateful for the security the contract extension gives him.
“The fact that I can get the extension and move forward, I don’t have to answer those questions,” he said. “I think we got something really good going here and I just look forward to being able to build on the momentum that we started.”
In his first head coaching stint, Stoudamire took over the program in 2016. Four years later he was named the West Coast Conference coach of the year, after the Tigers finished 23-10, their best record since 2013, and was also named the Ben Jobe Award recipient as the top minority head coach in Division I college basketball.
When Stoudamire arrived in Stockton the Tigers were in rough shape. They finished the 2015 season 8-20, and head coach Ron Vernlin and assistant coach Dwight Young were suspended due to an investigation for academic misconduct.
The university issued a selfimposed postseason ban, and reduced scholarship by six over Stoudamire’s first three seasons. Still, Pacific steadily improved each year. In his first season, the Tigers recorded 11
wins. Then they won 14 games in 2017 and 2018, before Stoudamire’s breakout year this past season before it ended when Pacific lost to San Francisco 72-54 in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament.
“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,” Pacific Athletic Director Janet Lucas said in a press release. “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.”
Stoudamire said he believes he established a culture at Pacific that prides itself on playing fast and defending hard. Looking forward, he said one of the biggest areas he wants his program to improve on is offensive production, as well as getting more “consistency in the program.”
“Once I started and you really realize how much hard work it takes to get to this point, I’m just proud, proud of the staff and proud of the players for sticking with it,” Stoudamire said.
The Tigers graduated four seniors from last season’s team, including WCC Defensive Player of the Year Jahlil Tripp. Pacific also added four players to this season’s recruiting class, including three players that transferred in from other Division I basketball programs.
“I’m excited,” Stoudamire said. “I love being a part of this community, and I’m just excited.”