UC Merced’s women’s basketball coach is stepping down to take over this college program
After seven years as the UC Merced women’s basketball coach, Sarah Hopkins-Cherry is leaving to become to take over the Cal State Monterey Bay women’s basketball program.
UC Merced announced the move in a press release on Friday afternoon.
The Bobcats won three California Pacific Conference Tournament championships under Cherry, who compiled a 103-66 record during her tenure at UC Merced.
The Bobcats went 18-8 under Hopkins-Cherry this past season, including a 10-0 run to a Cal Pac Conference championship.
Hopkins-Cherry led UC Merced to a 57-17 record in Cal Pac Conference play the past seven years. The Bobcats made the conference tournament in all seven years under Hopkins-Cherry.
The Bobcats also qualified for the NAIA Tournament three times under Hopkins-Cherry.
Hopkins-Cherry coached 17 All-Cal Pac selections, including the 4X Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year and the conference’s all-time leading scorer Mia Belvin.
A national search for UC Merced’s next head women’s basketball coach will begin immediately.
UC Merced recently announced it was expanding its athletic programs by adding men’s and women’s water polo and men’s ad women’s track.
UC Merced is also looking to hire its first men’s and women’s water polo coaches.
