Tina Samaniego was named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach on July 7, 2015 by head coach Renee Jimenez. Samaniego had served as Jimenez's top lieutenant over the past seven seasons at Cal State San Bernardino (2013-2015) and Cal State Monterey Bay (2008-2013).
Samaniego arrives at CSUSM with 10 years of collegiate coaching experience at the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NAIA levels. She will be involved with every aspect of the Cougar program including: scouting opponents, monitoring the program budget, individual skill development, recruiting, video exchange and travel coordination.
Samaniego and Jimenez went 28-25 in two seasons at CSUSB. In 2014-15, the Coyotes were the 13th most improved team in NCAA Division II, finishing with a 19-9 overall record after a 9-14 mark the year before. CSUSB earned a berth to the CCAA Tournament last season.
In addition, Samaniego coordinated an academic development program for the Coyote program that increased the team's overall grade point average from 2.5 to 3.04.
Samaniego helped Jimenez guide the Otters to new heights while at CSUMB. The pair guided the program to a 97-26 record over five seasons, three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and a CCAA regular-season title in 2011.
Prior to her time in the CCAA, Samaniego assisted three seasons on the NCAA Division I level, first on Hall of Famer Tara VanDerveer's staff at Stanford (2004-05) before two seasons at Pepperdine (2006-08).Â
She served as an assistant coach at Menlo College, a NAIA Division II institution, in 2004-05 after spending a pair of seasons as an assistant in San Francisco's Sacred Hearth Cathedral Preparatory (2002-2004).
Samaniego graduated from the University of San Francisco magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science and a minor in Business Administration in 2003. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she was the student administrative assistant for the men's basketball team for three seasons (2001-2004).
She also earned a Master of Arts in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Management from San Jose State in 2006.
The Oxnard native played one season at Pepperdine (1999-00) after walking on as a freshman. She then transferred to Ventura College (2000-01) where she helped the Pirates to the 2001 California Community College State Championship. She was the team captain and earned All-Western State Conference honors. Jimenez and Samaniego were teammates on that squad.
