Coaches tend to get called a lot of things. Just don’t call Brian Fogel “interim” any more. Fogel was named Chico State University’s Head Women’s Basketball coach Thursday after operating in an interim capacity for the past two seasons and the head assistant for a year prior to that.
“I am absolutely thrilled that Brian has agreed to lead our women’s basketball program into the future,” said Chico State Director of Athletics Anita Barker. “I am grateful for the stability and leadership he’s provided over the last two seasons. His passion for the game and commitment to the success of our student-athletes is contagious. I’m certain that Chico State women’s basketball will thrive under his continued leadership.”
Fogel, whose teams compiled a record of 39-23 over his two seasons in the interim role, guided the Wildcats into the NCAA Championship Tournament West Region title game (the Sweet 16) last season. The Wildcats won 12 of their last 14 games and were the top vote getter outside of the top-25 in the final USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches’ Poll of the season.
“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to continue to work with the young women on this team and the staff at Chico State,” said Fogel. “I’ve absolutely fallen in love with this program during my three years here and I’m looking forward to getting back to work and continuing to build upon the solid foundation laid by those before me.”
Fogel arrived at Chico State in 2007-08 as the head assistant coach and helped guide the Wildcats to a 28-6 record and the title game of the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional.
Prior to coming to Chico, Fogel spent five seasons as head coach of the UC Davis men’s basketball program, posting an 89-49 record and two trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament from 1998-2003. His 1999-2000 Aggies squad advanced all the way to the Sweet 16.
Fogel’s coaching career began in the 1989-90 season following his graduation from Sonoma State University that same year. He helped coach his alma mater to a Northern California Athletic Conference (NCAC) title and NCAA Tournament berth. After assisting at UC Berkeley the following season, Fogel moved on to become an assistant coach at San Francisco State, where he helped the Gators bump their win total from seven to 21 in three seasons and advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Fogel’s first head coaching assignment came in 1994-95 at Skyline Community College where his team compiled a 16-14 record and advanced to the Northern California Regional Championships. He joined the UC Davis staff for the 1995-96 season and the Aggies were 164-66 during his tenure there.
An All-NCAC player while at Sonoma State, Fogel still ranks fourth on the school’s career 3-pointers list with 141, and third in career 3-point shooting percentage (.429).
Fogel earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Sonoma State in 1990 and his master’s degree in health, physical education, and recreation from Saint Mary’s College in 1992. He and his wife, Kerry, have two daughters, Katrina and Brooke.
