Women's Basketball
Newnan, Tony
Tony Newnan
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Alma Mater:
- UCSB, '92
Tony Newnan joined the UCLA women’s basketball staff in May of 2011 and enters his 15th season as assistant coach at UCLA in 2025-26. He also serves as the program’s international recruiting coordinator.
Newnan has served on Head Coach Cori Close’s staff for the duration of her tenure; Newnans’s 14 seasons on the staff have seen the Bruins compile an impressive 321 wins. Newnan has also helped guide the squad to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including the team’s most recent appearance in 2025 – the Bruins made their first appearance in the NCAA Final Four after an impressive campaign in 2024-25, capturing the Big Ten Championship by defeating USC in the title game. The team advanced to the Sweet 16 in four-straight seasons from 2016-19 and secured Elite 8 berths in 2018 and 2025. The Bruins have seven Sweet 16 appearances under Newnan's guidance.
Newnan was named 2024-25 NCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The architect behind UCLA’s renovated offensive scheme, Newnan helped the Bruins produce the No. 2 scoring offense in the Pac-12 in 2020-21, as the team averaged 71.4 points per game and established a +13.1 scoring margin. Michaela Onyenwere (19.1 ppg) and Charisma Osborne (17.0 ppg) each averaged career-highs in scoring and earned All-Pac-12 accolades. Natalie Chou put up a career-high 9.9 points per game and secured All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention acclaim.
Newnan’s international recruiting expertise was pivotal in the development of the 2020 freshman class, as UCLA brought in Izzy Anstey from Australia and Emily Bessoir from Germany. Newnan also helped bring in Lina Sontag from Germany in the 2022 freshman class.
Newnan helped bring in UCLA's first-ever No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2014-15. The class included Recee' Caldwell, Jordin Canada, Monique Billings, Lajahna Drummer and Kelli Hayes. In 2015-16, the Bruins' recruiting class of Ashley Hearn and Kennedy Burke ranked ninth nationally.
Prior to UCLA, Newnan has been a women’s basketball assistant coach for eight seasons at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Warriors earned NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) national rankings and advanced to the NAIA Tournament in four of his last five seasons there. In 2009, Westmont posted a school record 22 wins and won at least 20 games in three of his last four seasons.
From 2000-01, Newnan worked as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Oregon State University. The Beavers entered post-season play (National Women’s Invitation Tournament) for the first time in six seasons during that year and were led by the play of guard Felicia Ragland who was named the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year in 2001. Ragland, who went on to be selected by the Seattle Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft, also earned District VIII Kodak All-America honors in both 2001 and 2002.
Newnan, who was the associate head coach at UC Santa Barbara in 1999-2000, served as a Gauchos’ assistant from 1993-2000. The Gauchos captured six Big West conference titles during his tenure, set a school record with 30 wins in 2000 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. A 1992 graduate of UCSB, Newnan embarked on his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Gaucho women’s team in 1990-93. He was then hired full-time the following season. During his years at UCSB, Newnan helped coach such future WNBA draft selections as Kayte Christensen, Erin Buescher and Stacy Clinesmith.
What They're Saying:
Stacy Clinesmith, former UCSB player and four-year WNBA player
"What I remember most about Tony is that his energetic, excited style of coaching made you want to play even harder on the court. He teaches the game so well and explains everything so well. He helped me be a better player skill-wise and emotionally as well, helping instill a we-will-not-lose attitude. Tony definitely brought out the best of me. I would have done anything, including run through a wall, for him and the coaching staff."
Kayte Christensen, former UCSB player, seven-year WNBA player, current ESPN men's and women's basketball reporter/analyst
"One of the great things about Tony is that he's a really good teacher. He has a unique and creative way of breaking down things so that it makes sense to each individual. I loved when coaches got in my face and pushed me. You can sense his passion and see how much he loves what he's doing. I've been away from UCSB for years, but I still call him once a year and thank him for my experience. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help us grow both on and off the court. Collegiate coaches bring players in as 17-18 year olds and adopt them as surrogate children, and I definitely feel like I grew so much with his help. I could not have been in the WNBA for seven years without him."
Mark French, former UCSB head coach
"I consider Tony Newnan to be one of the brightest basketball minds in women's basketball. His contributions to the success of our program at UCSB were immense. His `feel' for game strategy, scouting, and substitution patterns is unsurpassed. Additionally, Tony is one of the best teachers of individual skill development that I have ever worked with. His ability to break down skills and motivate athletes to grow and improve is legendary among UCSB, and undoubtedly Westmont, players. Tony is also one of the most competitive people I have had as an assistant coach. He hates to lose and spreads that passion for success to everyone around him. He has a great mind, is an excellent teacher with a great competitive heart, and one of the finest human beings I know! Congratulations to the Bruin women's basketball family - you are fortunate to have him!"
Newnan has served on Head Coach Cori Close’s staff for the duration of her tenure; Newnans’s 14 seasons on the staff have seen the Bruins compile an impressive 321 wins. Newnan has also helped guide the squad to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including the team’s most recent appearance in 2025 – the Bruins made their first appearance in the NCAA Final Four after an impressive campaign in 2024-25, capturing the Big Ten Championship by defeating USC in the title game. The team advanced to the Sweet 16 in four-straight seasons from 2016-19 and secured Elite 8 berths in 2018 and 2025. The Bruins have seven Sweet 16 appearances under Newnan's guidance.
Newnan was named 2024-25 NCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The architect behind UCLA’s renovated offensive scheme, Newnan helped the Bruins produce the No. 2 scoring offense in the Pac-12 in 2020-21, as the team averaged 71.4 points per game and established a +13.1 scoring margin. Michaela Onyenwere (19.1 ppg) and Charisma Osborne (17.0 ppg) each averaged career-highs in scoring and earned All-Pac-12 accolades. Natalie Chou put up a career-high 9.9 points per game and secured All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention acclaim.
Newnan’s international recruiting expertise was pivotal in the development of the 2020 freshman class, as UCLA brought in Izzy Anstey from Australia and Emily Bessoir from Germany. Newnan also helped bring in Lina Sontag from Germany in the 2022 freshman class.
Newnan helped bring in UCLA's first-ever No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2014-15. The class included Recee' Caldwell, Jordin Canada, Monique Billings, Lajahna Drummer and Kelli Hayes. In 2015-16, the Bruins' recruiting class of Ashley Hearn and Kennedy Burke ranked ninth nationally.
Prior to UCLA, Newnan has been a women’s basketball assistant coach for eight seasons at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Warriors earned NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) national rankings and advanced to the NAIA Tournament in four of his last five seasons there. In 2009, Westmont posted a school record 22 wins and won at least 20 games in three of his last four seasons.
From 2000-01, Newnan worked as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Oregon State University. The Beavers entered post-season play (National Women’s Invitation Tournament) for the first time in six seasons during that year and were led by the play of guard Felicia Ragland who was named the Pac-10 Conference Player of the Year in 2001. Ragland, who went on to be selected by the Seattle Storm in the 2002 WNBA draft, also earned District VIII Kodak All-America honors in both 2001 and 2002.
Newnan, who was the associate head coach at UC Santa Barbara in 1999-2000, served as a Gauchos’ assistant from 1993-2000. The Gauchos captured six Big West conference titles during his tenure, set a school record with 30 wins in 2000 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000. A 1992 graduate of UCSB, Newnan embarked on his coaching career as a student assistant coach for the Gaucho women’s team in 1990-93. He was then hired full-time the following season. During his years at UCSB, Newnan helped coach such future WNBA draft selections as Kayte Christensen, Erin Buescher and Stacy Clinesmith.
What They're Saying:
Stacy Clinesmith, former UCSB player and four-year WNBA player
"What I remember most about Tony is that his energetic, excited style of coaching made you want to play even harder on the court. He teaches the game so well and explains everything so well. He helped me be a better player skill-wise and emotionally as well, helping instill a we-will-not-lose attitude. Tony definitely brought out the best of me. I would have done anything, including run through a wall, for him and the coaching staff."
Kayte Christensen, former UCSB player, seven-year WNBA player, current ESPN men's and women's basketball reporter/analyst
"One of the great things about Tony is that he's a really good teacher. He has a unique and creative way of breaking down things so that it makes sense to each individual. I loved when coaches got in my face and pushed me. You can sense his passion and see how much he loves what he's doing. I've been away from UCSB for years, but I still call him once a year and thank him for my experience. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do to help us grow both on and off the court. Collegiate coaches bring players in as 17-18 year olds and adopt them as surrogate children, and I definitely feel like I grew so much with his help. I could not have been in the WNBA for seven years without him."
Mark French, former UCSB head coach
"I consider Tony Newnan to be one of the brightest basketball minds in women's basketball. His contributions to the success of our program at UCSB were immense. His `feel' for game strategy, scouting, and substitution patterns is unsurpassed. Additionally, Tony is one of the best teachers of individual skill development that I have ever worked with. His ability to break down skills and motivate athletes to grow and improve is legendary among UCSB, and undoubtedly Westmont, players. Tony is also one of the most competitive people I have had as an assistant coach. He hates to lose and spreads that passion for success to everyone around him. He has a great mind, is an excellent teacher with a great competitive heart, and one of the finest human beings I know! Congratulations to the Bruin women's basketball family - you are fortunate to have him!"
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