Cecilia Russell-Nava - Women's Basketball Coach (2024)

Cecilia Russell-Nava is in her ninth year with the UC Irvine women’s basketball program, and fifthas an associate head coach in 2024-25.

Russell-Nava has been instrumental to the Anteaters’ success over the last eight seasons. Last year, the ‘Eaters won the Big West Championship for the second time in program history and earned a No. 13 seed in their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 29 years. UCI closed out the campaign with a 23-9 overall record (16-4 Big West), marking its third consecutive 20-win season. UC Irvine was ranked in the final College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Poll (23rd) and was among the nation’s best in scoring defense (14th, 55.7 ppg). Russell-Nava worked closely with Déja Lee, who was the first Anteater to be named the Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, and with Diaba Konate, who was tabbed the conference’s Best Defensive Player.

In 2022-23, the ‘Eaters made history, winning the program's first Big West regular season championship and earning the program's first postseason victory with an opening-round win in the WNIT. They finished the campaign at 25-7 (16-2 Big West), setting school records in overall and conference wins. They were also ranked 23rd in the final College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Poll. In addition, Russell-Nava played an integral role in UCI’s defense that allowed only 53.2 points per game, which was seventh-best in the nation.

In 2021-22, Russell-Navahelped orchestrate another 20-win season (21-12).UC Irvine made it to the Big West championship game for the second year in a row, while earning the program’s first WNIT postseason berth. The Anteaters ended the year ranked first in the league in scoring offense (66.5 ppg) and scoring margin (+5.6), and set single-season records in free throw percentage (76%) and 3-pointers made (224).

In 2020-21, during a shortened season in the middle of a pandemic, Russell-Nava helped lead UCI to a 15-9 overall record, and an 11-4 mark in conference play. The 'Eaters made their first appearance in the Big West championship game in 24 years. In 2019-20, Russell-Nava also led UC Irvine to a second-place Big West finish.

In 2018-19, Russell-Nava guided the Anteaters (20-11) to their third 20-win campaign and first since 1984-85. The team’s success did not go unnoticed as they made their debut in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, rising to as high as No. 15. UC Irvine also closed out the year ranked among the top-25 in the nation in turnover margin (7th), turnovers forced (22nd) and steals (23rd).

In 2017-18, Russell-Nava played a key role in directing the 'Eaters to an 18-14 record and their first postseason appearance since 1995. The 18 victories more than doubled the team's win total from each of the previous three years. In addition, UCI saw a 12.5 game improvement from 2016-17, which was one of the top turnarounds in all of NCAA Division I. The Anteaters, whofinished third in the Big West at 10-6, puttogether a season-long seven-game win streak that propelled them to their best start in conference play. During that stretch, UC Irvine outscored its opponents by 16.0 ppg and put up two 100-point performances. The 'Eaters reached the century mark for the first time since 1979 with a 100-81 victory at Long Beach State, before posting 107 points vs. Cal Poly. The team showed their prowess on the defensive end as well as they led the Big West and ranked 13th in the nation with 11.1 steals per game.

In her first year at UC Irvine (2016-17), Russell-Nava mentored a pair of All-Big West selections, includingAndeeRitter, who shattered a single-season school record with 87 3-pointers made. Russell-Nava was also integral in the signing of five prep standouts for the 2017-18 season.

Russell-Nava came to Irvine following her second stint at New Mexico State from 2014-16. During her tenure, the Aggies made their third and fourth NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, while winning back-to-back Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. Russell-Nava helped guide NM State to a school-record 26 wins in 2016, and an impressive 48-13 overall record over the two-year span.

Russell-Nava was also an assistant at San Jose State (2011-14) where she was in charge of recruiting, academics and community outreach. She started her coaching career at New Mexico State as a graduate assistant in 2007-08 when the team went 23-9. It was their first 20-win campaign since 1996. She then spent the next three years as an assistant coach, helping the Aggies make their first national postseason appearance in 16 years with a bid to the 2010 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

Russell-Nava was a starting guard at NM State from 2005-07. She led the WAC with 78 3-pointers made as a junior, a mark that is still tied for second in single-season program history. Russell-Nava also ranks sixth on the Aggies’ all-time list with 172 career threes.

Russell-Nava earned her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from New Mexico State in 2007.