LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego women's basketball head coach
Heidi VanDerveer has announced the elevation of
PhyNique Allen to Associate Head Coach for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
"I am thrilled to elevate
PhyNique Allen to the position of Associate Head Coach," said VanDerveer. "She has been an integral part of our program's success and is exceptionally deserving of this opportunity."
Allen enters her sixth season with the UC San Diego program in 2026-27, responsible for coordinating the offense and supporting the Tritons' recruiting efforts.
During her tenure in La Jolla, Allen has helped 18 Tritons earn All-Big West accolades, including 2025-26 Big West Defensive Player of the Year, Co-Best Hustle Player and Big West Championship Most Outstanding Player,
Makayla Rose. Additionally, Allen helped recruit 2024-25 Big West Newcomer of the Year
Sabrina Ma and Big West Freshman of the Year Sumayah Sugapong.
"PhyNique is an outstanding coach—a knowledgeable and skilled teacher of the game, an exceptional tactician, and a tremendous mentor to the young women in our program. She has a unique gift for connecting and communicating, building meaningful relationships, and inspiring our scholar-athletes to reach their full potential. Beyond her expertise on the court, she is a special person who genuinely invests in the lives of our scholar-athletes, our staff, and the people who are fortunate enough to cross paths with her."
With Allen's help, the Tritons won back-to-back Big West Championships, adding a share of the regular season title in 2025-26. After she took over offensive duties last season, UC San Diego averaged 70.2 points per game with a +7.5 scoring margin, ranking third and second in the Big West respectively. The Tritons were first in field goal percentage (42.0) and second in assists (465 total, 14.09 per game).
In 2025-26, four Tritons ranked in the top 20 in scoring, led by
Erin Condron (15.6 points per game), who also led the conference with a 53.1 field goal percentage.
Dymonique Maxie led the Big West with 4.4 assists per game and set the program's Division I program record with 145 total assists on the season.
"PhyNique's genuine care for others, combined with her passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence, has made a lasting impact on our program."
Allen is a graduate of Big West member Cal State Bakersfield and was a standout on the women's basketball team for the Roadrunners. Allen earned her master's in sports management from the University of San Francisco. The San Diego native played basketball at Serra High School, where she earned Eastern League MVP honors as a senior.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II.
