Long Beach State Athletics Director Andy Fee has selected Jeff Cammon to be the new women’s basketball head coach in his first hire. Cammon replaces Jody Wynn, who departed after eight seasons at Long Beach State and leading the 49ers to their first NCAA Tournament since the 1991-92 season.
“We’re thrilled to welcome back Jeff as the new head coach of the women’s basketball program,” said Fee. “Jeff played a big part in building the foundation for the current success of our program, and has continued to grow as a coach. He understands our culture and values, and his drive to succeed will help us achieve outstanding results and continue the momentum created this past season and beyond for Long Beach State women’s basketball.”
Cammon will be introduced by Fee at a press conference to be held in the Ukleja Room in the Walter Pyramid on Thursday, May 11 at 10 a.m. Watch the press conference live!
Cammon was part of Wynn’s first coaching staff at the Beach, spending five years with Long Beach State, and was instrumental in the team’s turnaround. In his first season with the team, Long Beach State finished over .500 in conference play for the first time in four years, and then two years later, reached the Big West Tournament finals.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to come back to the Beach family,” said Cammon. “I feel like I never left because my heart was still there in Long Beach. I’m both humbled and excited to come back and be able to build on the successful tradition and culture established by Jody Wynn, Derek and the rest of her staff.”
In 2012-13, Long Beach State made its first postseason appearance in over ten years, earning a selection into the WNIT. In each of Cammon’s five seasons at Long Beach State the 49ers reached the Big West Tournament.
Cammon left LBSU to join the coaching staff at Cal, where he helped lead the Golden Bears to the 2014-15 Pac-12 Conference Championship game as well as to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. During his time in Berkley, Cal posted a 40-27 record.
His most recent coaching stop was at Colorado, where he once again played a big part in a major turnaround. Doubling the team’s win total from a season earlier, Colorado went 17-16 overall and started the season 10-0, including a win over a ranked Kentucky team. The Buffaloes also picked up a win No. 24 California on the road, the first away win over a ranked opponent for CU since 2007.
Prior to coaching at the Beach, Cammon spent two years as the head girls’ varsity coach at Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, Calif. where he also taught history. He also coached on the men’s side as an assistant at Kentucky Wesleyan, Chaffey CC and his alma mater, Alcorn State.
A three-year starter at point guard with the Braves, Cammon was the team captain for two years and led Alcorn State to three conference championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance. He graduated from Alcorn State in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and then completed a master’s degree in physical education two years later in 2005.
Photo Courtesy Long Beach State Athletics
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