Jana Pearson was named the fourth head coach of the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball program on June 20, 2024.
In her first season with the program in 2024-25, Pearson's Coguars finished 8-20 overall with an 8-14 CCAA record to finish tied for seventh in the conference standings. Rory Hetrick earned All-CCAA second-team honors while Rose Morse was named an honorable mention.
The 2024-25 CSUSM basketball team earned a special mention on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll after posting a 3.628 cumulative team GPA this past season, the second highest in the CCAA.
Pearson comes to CSUSM from Westmont College where she was the Warriors' assistant coach beginning in July 2021. In her three seasons at Westmont, Pearson helped the Warrior transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, finishing with a 64-25 record that included two Sweet 16 finishes.
Prior to Westmont, Pearson was the assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado from July 2018 through June 2021. Pearson served as the post player coach that included the 2020-21 Big Sky Conference Player of the Year. She also oversaw academics, mental health, team building, community service and outreach, summer camps and clinics, graduate assistants, interns and scouting.
In four seasons at Vanguard, Pearson served as acting head coach in 40 games and helped the Lions to a 101-25 record with four NAIA National Tournament appearances that culminated in two Sweet 16s and one Final Four. She also led the team as acting head coach in international competition in Taiwan in the summer of 2017. In 2018, Pearson was named the WBCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.
Pearson worked at Freed Hardeman University in Tennessee in her first full-time assistant coaching position from August 2010 to June 2014. During her time there, Pearson was part of a program that went 125-19 and made four NAIA National appearances, including a 2014 National Runner-Up title.
In her 14 years as an assistant coach, Pearson diligently recruited and coached four national players of the year, 18 All-Americans and over 80 scholar-athletes.
Pearson earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics in December of 2007 from Harding University, where she was a member of the Harding women's basketball team for four years. While serving as a graduate assistant, Pearson graduated with a Master of Science degree in Counseling in 2010.
| Head Coaching Record |
| Team |
Year |
Record |
Playoffs/Honors/Notes |
| Cal State San Marcos |
2024-25 |
8-20 |
|
| Total |
1 Season |
8-20 (.286) |
|
