A Central Valley native with three decades of coaching experience and a proven record of program building, Ray Alvarado has been named Head Coach of the Cal State Bakersfield women’s basketball program, as announced by CSUB acting Director of Athletics Dr. Sarah Tuohy.
Alvarado, who joined the Roadrunners in summer 2025 as Associate Head Coach, was named Interim Head Coach in April 2026. Following a national search, he now takes over the program on a permanent basis with the interim tag removed.
“Ray brings exactly what we were looking for at the helm of our women’s basketball program,” Tuohy said. “His extensive coaching career, including his experience at the junior college level, has given him a deep understanding of how to develop players and win – and his record speaks for itself. What excites me just as much is his connection to the Central Valley. That connection is core to what it means to be a Roadrunner, and Ray is going to recruit this backyard with a passion and credibility that will be transformative for our program.”
Before arriving in Bakersfield, Alvarado served as the Head Coach at Hawai’i Pacific University, leading the Sharks’ women’s basketball program after a highly successful 13-year run as Head Coach at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif. At COS, Alvarado guided the Giants to a CCCAA State Championship Final Four appearance in 2022 and multiple Elite Eight berths while earning five Central Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors.
Alvarado also spent time as the Head Coach at Fresno City College, Bullard High School and Sanger High School, building a career rooted in the San Joaquin Valley. His teams have a reputation for player development, discipline, recruiting connections and strong community ties.
“Having been born and raised in the Valley, it was a goal of mine to come back home and give back to the community that helped shape my coaching profession over the years,” Alvarado said. “When I left College of the Sequoias for Hawai’i Pacific, the goal was always to return home. I have a strong connection with the city of Bakersfield, as many of our former student-athletes came from local high schools. I owe this basketball community a great amount. It is truly a blessing and privilege to lead Cal State Bakersfield women’s basketball. I’m thankful and honored to have the support of President Harper and Acting Director of Athletics Dr. Tuohy.”
During his time at College of the Sequoias, Alvarado developed one of the region’s most consistent junior college programs, establishing recruiting pipelines throughout the Central Valley while overseeing all aspects of the program, including scheduling, budgeting, scouting, fundraising, academic progress and community involvement.
Alvarado’s coaching career began in the high school and junior college ranks, including stops at Sanger High School and Fresno City College. At Sanger High, he led the girls’ basketball program to a Central Section championship and a CIF State Tournament appearance in 2000. He later coached the boys’ program at Sanger before continuing his college coaching career.
“I’ve always felt compelled that if I was going to expect much from my players, I wanted to make sure their effort would equate to success from all the hard work they put in,” Alvarado said. “Disciplined teams win in the long run. There will be no shortcuts to success. Over the years I learned from exceptional coaches that transformational relationships will take a program further than simply transactional ones.”
When asked about his team’s playing style, Alvarado described a philosophy that matches Kern County to its core: “Offensively we will have an open, up-tempo style. Defensively, we will model what the Valley is – hard work, blue collar, no excuses, and a relentless attack mentality. Simply, I know no other way. I know our fans will appreciate our program and what we will represent. It will always be about a culture of toughness, physicality, family and unselfishness.”
