FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State announced the hiring of Ryan McCarthy as the 12th head coach of the Fresno State women's basketball program on Monday.
"I am incredibly grateful to join the Fresno State family and serve as your women's basketball head coach," said McCarthy. "The direction the University is headed is very exciting, and the Valley is a place that my family and I are excited to become a part of."
McCarthy comes to the Valley from Alaska Anchorage, where he had tremendous success with the Seawolves. In 13 seasons as the head coach there, he compiled an overall record of 309-67 (.822). A proven winner, his career head coaching record of 14 seasons is encapsulated by a 323-80 overall record.
"Ryan McCarthy is a winner. His track record speaks for itself, but what really stood out was his vision, his energy, and his relentless style of play," said Fresno State Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy. "His 'Mayhem' system is going to bring a level of excitement and intensity that the Red Wave will absolutely love. Ryan is hungry to compete at the highest level, and he's ready to build something special here at Fresno State."
A six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year honoree, McCarthy led the UAA program to the third-best winning percentage and fourth-most total victories in NCAA Div. II over the past 10 years with a 309-67 (.822) record, reaching the NCAA National Title Game in 2016.
In 13 seasons under McCarthy, the Seawolves produced six All-Americans, three GNAC Players of the Year, 22 1st- or 2nd-team All-GNAC honorees, 45 Academic All-GNAC performers, and have seen seven players ascend to the professional ranks. Team-wise under McCarthy, UAA posted victories over eight NCAA Div. I teams, 16 wins over NCAA Div. II nationally ranked teams, and a 11-8 NCAA Tournament record.
Prior to UAA, McCarthy spent five seasons at GNAC rival Northwest Nazarene from 2007-12. At NNU, he served as an assistant, interim head coach and associate head coach, helping the Crusaders to two NCAA Tournament berths and a .633 winning percentage.
In 2010-11, McCarthy stepped up as acting head coach and led the Crusaders to a 14-13 record and a bid to the inaugural GNAC Tournament. In 2011-12, McCarthy was named associate head coach and helped pilot NNU to an 18-10 season.
McCarthy played professionally for Tus Bramsche in Bramsche, Germany, in 2006-07, where he led the league in three-pointers and free throw percentage. He spent 2006 with the Central Oregon Hotshots of the International Basketball League, averaging 16 points, four assists and four rebounds per game.
A four-year starter and three-year captain for Northwest Nazarene from 2002-06, McCarthy was NNU's Orrin Hills Male Athlete of the Year for 2005-06. He ranks third in program history with 256 treys over his career, setting the then-GNAC single-season record with 102 three pointers in 2005-06. Overall he posted 1,161 career points for the Crusaders.
McCarthy graduated from NNU in 2006 with a B.S. in social science education and is the proud father of two children, Donovan and Aurora. He and his wife Jenna, a former collegiate star at Florida Gulf Coast University, were married in 2019.
"We are excited to welcome Ryan McCarthy as our new head women's basketball coach," says University President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval. "I'm confident that Coach McCarthy will soon become part of our Valley community and Red Wave! His proven track record of leadership, dedication to his players, and success both on and off the court speaks volumes. Ryan's commitment to student-athlete development and his passion for the game reflect our university's core values; we are fully confident that his vision and experience will usher in a new era of excellence for our program."
A formal press conference to introduce McCarthy to the Red Wave will take place at a later date, with details to be announced. To request information about season tickets for the upcoming season click here, or to purchase your 2025-26 season tickets click here.