Long Beach State Women’s Basketball Coach Jody Wynn to Leave The Beach After Eight Seasons

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 14, 2017) – Following a memorable 2016-17 campaign that saw Long Beach State Women’s Basketball win the Big West Tournament championship, advance to the NCAA Tournament and come just one point shy of becoming the first No. 15 seed to ever defeat a No. 2 seed, head coach Jody Wynn will leave the program to take a similar position at the University of Washington.Jody Wynn (c) celebrating with players following a victory.

“The excitement over the success of our women’s basketball team this season reverberated throughout the campus and community. This is a true testament to the leadership and tireless effort of Jody Wynn,” said President Jane Close Conoley. “Coach Wynn, her staff and the student-athletes under her charge have all been great ambassadors for the university. We made every effort to retain her, but ultimately, she decided to move on to a different challenge and I respect her decision.”

“I want to personally thank Jody for everything she has done for Long Beach State Women’s Basketball,” added Interim Athletics Director Cindy Masner. “Her hard work, dedication and passion have brought our Women’s Basketball program back to national prominence. She will always be part of The Beach family. While she will be deeply missed, this is a great opportunity for her and I want to wish her, her husband Derek and her family the best.”

Wynn’s eight seasons at the Beach culminated in the first NCAA appearance for Long Beach State since 1991-92 and the first Big West Tournament championship for the program since 1990-91. The 49ers went 23-11 overall in 2016-17 and finished second in the Big West with a 12-4 record. Long Beach State then went on to face Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and came up one point short against the No. 8 Beavers, falling 56-55.

Women’s Basketball at the Beach under Wynn showed consistent improvement. After two seasons of rebuilding, Long Beach State made a run to the Big West Tournament finals in her third season. Long Beach State would then go on to make the WNIT in three of the next four years. Over the last three seasons under Wynn, Long Beach State has posted a 69-20 overall record.

A national search will begin immediately to find a replacement for Wynn to lead the Long Beach State Women’s Basketball program. LBSU has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 12 times and has reached two Final Fours.

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About Long Beach State University

Long Beach State University is a teaching-intensive, research-driven university committed to providing highly-valued undergraduate and graduate degrees critical for success in the globally-minded 21st century. Annually ranked among the best universities in the West and among the best values in the entire nation, the university’s eight colleges serve more than 37,500 students. Long Beach State values and is recognized for rich educational opportunities provided by excellent faculty and staff, exceptional degree programs, diversity of its student body, fiduciary and administrative responsibility and the positive contributions faculty, staff, students and more than 300,000 alumni make on society.