SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Renee Jimenez has stepped down as the head coach of the Cal State San Marcos women’s basketball team and has agreed to accept the same position at NCAA Division I UC Santa Barbara.
Jimenez led CSUSM to four consecutive NCAA West Regional appearances, capping this season with its first NCAA Division II West Regional Championship Title and an Elite Eight appearance. The Cougars finished the season at No. 5 in the WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll and set a new program record in wins with a 27-7 overall record.
In 2023-24, Jimenez collected her fourth career CCAA Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, her third as CSUSM’s head coach.
Under Jimenez’s leadership, CSUSM has won three CCAA Regular-Season Championships and two CCAA Tournament Championships. CSUSM tallied 20 or more wins for the fourth consecutive season while appearing on top of the CCAA standings the entire season, finishing with an 18-4 conference record.
Jimenez was hired as CSUSM’s head coach in 2015 and has been the program’s winningest head coach in terms of victories (145) and winning percentage (.641) since the team’s inception in 2011-12.
A national search for CSUSM’s next head coach will begin immediately.
“First off and most importantly, I want to thank all the young women and their families who have come through our program. I have been incredibly lucky to coach such a special group of kids over the years. It has been such a fun ride with so many incredible moments, huge victories and the most fun celebrations. When we first started our journey here at San Marcos, we could have never envisioned what it turned out to be. As a coach, your job is to leave places better than you found them, and I am proud to say we have all been able to do that here. Cal State San Marcos, the athletic department staff, all the university employees, the city, and the community will always have an extremely special place in my heart, and I feel so lucky to have gone on this journey with all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me and my family and allowing us to create lasting memories and friendships.”
– Renee Jimenez, Head Coach
“I want to thank Renee for what she has done for our CSUSM Women’s Basketball program. It has been really special to watch Renee take over our young program over nine years ago during a transition into NCAA Division II, to becoming a top regional and national program. This past year was special to see the amazing season that our team had, and this is a testament to not only our resilient student-athletes but also what Renee, Dario and Tina have built over the years. I have no doubt that UC Santa Barbara will be successful with Coach Jimenez leading their program. Her legacy here at CSUSM is cemented, and we will be rooting for both her and Dario’s success at UC Santa Barbara.”
– Morod Shah, Interim Director of Athletics
“This year, Coach Jimenez achieved a historic milestone by guiding us to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Having witnessed her leadership firsthand throughout this and previous seasons, I’m immensely happy and proud of Coach Jimenez for this new opportunity, despite it being a significant loss for Cal State San Marcos. Over the past decade, she has worked arduously and dedicated herself to elevating women’s basketball at CSUSM and has earned all the success she is experiencing today. While Coach Jimenez’s departure will undoubtedly leave a remarkable legacy, I can’t wait to see the impact she will continue to have in the lives of student-athletes. UC Santa Barbara is fortunate to have Coach Jimenez and Assistant Coach Frias leading their program.”
– Dr. Viridiana Diaz, Vice President for Student Affairs
