Shannon LeBeauf, who spent 14 seasons on the sidelines with UCLA Women’s Basketball, has returned to join the program’s coaching staff as Associate Head Coach ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“UCLA has always been a special place for me because of the people, the purpose, and the commitment to excellence that exists throughout the program,” said LeBeauf. “My time away provided valuable opportunities to grow as a coach, a leader, and a person, and I return with an even greater appreciation for what makes UCLA exceptional. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness throughout my journey and for the opportunity to return to a place that has been so meaningful to my growth both personally and professionally.”
LeBeauf was inducted in the A STEP UP Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame as a part of the Class of 2025.
“I am excited to invest in the development of our student-athletes, build on the championship foundation of this program, and help young women discover their potential as athletes, leaders, and people,” said LeBeauf. “I am grateful to Coach Close and UCLA Athletics for the opportunity to return, and I look forward to serving this program as we continue building a championship culture that develops elite competitors, confident leaders, and remarkable young women. Go Bruins!”
In her fourteen years on Coach Cori Close‘s staff, she helped lead the Bruins to a 321-143 record and secured two No. 1-ranked recruiting classes. LeBeauf was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2019-20 campaign, also serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. LeBeauf helped bring in UCLA’s first-ever No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2014-15; the class included Recee’ Caldwell, Jordin Canada, Monique Billings, Lajahna Drummer and Kelli Hayes.
“Shannon LeBeauf has been such an integral part of our program,” said The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach. “She is an elite recruiter and coach who knows how to build a number one recruiting class and develop them to their full potential, both as student-athletes and as young women. We’re so happy to welcome her back to UCLA – she leads with humility and grace, and she creates such meaningful relationships with everyone in our program. I’m so excited that she’ll be on our sideline again; her voice and her presence is one of a kind.”
In 2021-22, she was able to secure another No. 1 ranking for UCLA; the Bruins’ recruiting class of Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Londynn Jones, Christeen Iwuala and Lina Sontag ranked first nationally. In conjunction with the UCLA coaching staff, she helped establish the “Leaders In Training” mentorship program for women’s basketball student-athletes. Before her first stint in Los Angeles, she coached at Duke for five seasons (2004-09); LeBeauf was also an assistant at USC from 2000-04 and Iowa from 1999-2000.
While at Duke, LeBeauf helped bring in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation in 2005, which included National High School Player of the Year Abby Waner. She also helped recruit the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation in 2007 with WBCA All-Americans Jasmine Thomas, Krystal Thomas and Karima Christmas, as well as the No. 5 class in 2008. Her duties on the Duke coaching staff included recruiting, practice instruction, scouting and coaching guards. Perry-LeBeauf coached five All-Americans at Duke, including future WNBA players Waner, Lindsey Harding, Alison Bales, Monique Currie, and Chante Black. She coached in the NCAA Tournament all five years at Duke, with the Blue Devils advancing to the championship game in 2006. Duke captured Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championships in 2005 and 2007.
At USC, LeBeauf’s responsibilities were national recruiting, practice instruction and academic liaison. She helped USC sign a top-10 recruiting class in 2004. At Iowa, she was involved with daily practice instruction, coaching the post players, scouting, recruiting and monitoring academic progress of student-athletes.
LeBeauf graduated in 1998 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and communication studies, where she graduated with honors. She was a four-year letterwinner at Iowa from 1995-98 and was regarded as the team’s leading defensive player throughout that time. She led the Hawkeyes to the 1997 Big Ten Tournament title, as well as regular season titles in 1996 and 1998. Her teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament her final three seasons and made a trip to the Sweet 16 in 1996. Additionally, she was a three-time All-Big Ten Academic selection and received the 1998 Robin Roberts/WBCA Sports Communication Scholarship award and the 1998 NCAA Women’s Enhancement Post-Graduate Scholarship award.
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