2024-25 California Pacific Conference Coach of the Year Kevin Pham enters his eleventh season at the helm of the University of California, Merced men's basketball program in 2025-26. Pham has compiled an overall record of 139-106 and an 87-49 record in California Pacific Conference play over the past ten seasons. Both of Pham’s win totals are good for first in program history and first among all active Cal Pac head coaches. Overall, the Bobcats have made eight conference tournament appearances under Pham and have been ranked Top 5 in the NAIA in points allowed per game in seven of the last eight seasons, Top 15 in eight of the last ten years.
Last season, Pham helped the Bobcats put together a perfect 10-0 record in Cal Pac play on their way to winning the first regular season championship in program history. In the Spring of 2021, Pham and the Bobcats won the Phase Two California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship.
Pham’s player’s have a plethora of accolades and he has coached 16 All-Cal Pac First Team selections, three Cal Pac Defensive Players of the Year, two Cal Pac Freshman of the Year, one Cal Pac Player of the Year, and an NAIA All-American. Pham has also coached six All-Cal Pac Second Team selections, eight honorable mentions, and 23 players of the week.
Pham was named the 2023 Asian Coaches Association Men’s Coach of the Year by ACA President Mike Magpayo during the NCAA Men’s Final Four weekend in Houston.
UC Merced went 21-9 in 2022-23 under Pham, the first 20-win campaign and the highest win total in program history. In conference play, the Bobcats finished 14-6 and won their way into the California Pacific Conference Championship game. To get to the title game and win game #21, the Bobcats beat 20th ranked and Cal Pac preseason favorite University of Antelope Valley. Pham's team ranked fourth in the NAIA allowing just 62.7 points per game this past season, which is also a program-record outside the shortened 2020-21 season where the Bobcats were limited to just nine games. Pham's defensive mark was also the top mark among all NAIA West Coast schools over a full year since 2016-17 and the top mark in the Cal Pac since 2008. Additionally, the Bobcats set program-records with 37.5 rebounds per game and 3.5 blocks per game this past season. UC Merced tallied a six-game winning streak from November 9-December 4 and a program-best seven-game road winning streak between December 28 and February 9. Pham coached two All-Cal Pac First Team selections in Mason Westlake and Kingsley Obiorah. The duo also combined to set UC Merced single-season records in three-pointers, rebounds, blocks, and double-doubles this past season under Pham.
The 2021-22 season saw the Bobcats win six of their last eight games to clinch a spot in their third straight California Pacific Conference Tournament. The Bobcats finished the season 9-12 overall and 6-4 in Cal Pac play under Pham. Despite being hit with the injury and illness bug all-season long, the Bobcats notched multiple big wins including their first ever win over GSAC opponent Vanguard University and Cascade opponent Bushnell University. The Bobcats win over Vanguard gave Pham five straight wins in season openers. A key highlight also includes winning three straight games in as many days on an Arizona road trip, including a 93-91 (2OT) win at Benedictine University Mesa. Guard Mason Westlake was voted a Unanimous All-Cal Pac First Team selection after averaging 16.3 points per game throughout the year, the highest scoring mark in the Pham era. Westlake ranked fourth in the Cal Pac in scoring and led the nation with 3.2 3-PT makes per game. Three of Pham’s top five scorers this year were underclassman, a tribute to Pham’s development of freshmen.
Pham led the Bobcats through a historical season in the spring of 2021 ending with a 77-60 win over La Sierra University in the Phase Two California Pacific Conference Championship game. The first trophy in program history capped off a perfect season in which the Bobcats went 8-0 in conference play. The Bobcats became just the third team ever to finish Cal Pac play undefeated, joining the 2019-20 University of Antelope Valley Pioneers and the 2011-12 Cal Maritime Keelhaulers. Pham had his way with this year’s competition, winning six games by double figures and four games by at least 15 points. The most dominant season in program history also saw the Bobcats set a single-season records in points per game, points allowed per game, rebounds per game and field goal percentage. For the first time in program history, three players averaged at least 14 points per game. Chiwike E’denchukwu (16.1), Mason Westlake (15.9) and Jonah Cottrell (14.7) made up the three-headed offensive monster and all three posted the program’s highest single-season scoring average since Aki Chambers in 2012-13. E’denchukwu and Cottrell also earned All-Cal Pac First Team honors, while Westlake was named the Cal Pac Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The 2019-20 season saw the Bobcats win a program-record 18 games, including nine in Cal Pac play and the squad advanced to its second Cal Pac Championship game in the last three years. The Bobcats .642 (18-10) winning percentage was the fifth highest out of any Cal Pac team since the start of the 2016-17 season. Pham’s team was praised for their tough nosed defense, senior guards, three-point shooting and stellar play on their home floor. UC Merced held opponents to a school record 65.61 points per game, 61.64 in conference play which is the best of any Cal Pac team since the 2013-14 season. Pham’s senior guard trio of Ryan Haywood, Andrew Williams and Raphael Durr made up nearly half of the Bobcats assists and steals output and more than a third of the team’s scoring. Pham guided his team to six straight home wins to open the season, including wins over NCAA Division II opponent Dominican University and 2020 National Tournament qualifier Menlo College. The Bobcats ended up a program-best 12-2 on Hostetler Court. Big road wins include at postseason qualifiers Simpson University and Cal Maritime. Pham and his squad’s success resulted in a berth to the Cal Pac Championships, where they entered as the No. 2 seed and shot 53% en route to a 77-65 win over Cal Maritime in Lancaster, Calif. The win put Pham in the championship game for the second time in his career, the most among all active Cal Pac head coaches. At the postseason banquet, Ryan Haywood and Jonah Cottrell earned All-Cal Pac First Team honors, while Raphael Durr was a Second Team selection and Chiwike E’denchukwu was voted honorable mention.
During the 2018-19 campaign, the Bobcats won a program-record 14 games and finished over .500 for the first time. Anchored by a stingy defense, the Bobcats won four straight to open the year, including a 79-62 win over 12th ranked Oregon Tech that garnered the Bobcats national recognition. Other notable wins include Dominican, Eastern Oregon and Cal Pac Runner-Up Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (AZ). The Bobcats finished No. 3 in the country in scoring defense per game, allowing just 65.76. Pham’s team also ranked among the countries best in turnover margin, field goal pct. defense and steals per game. UC Merced was balanced offensively and had seven different players average at least six points per game. Junior guard Ryan Haywood earned Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Mason Westlake was tabbed the Cal Pac Freshman of the Year. Senior Aaron Laflin (2nd Team) and Raphael Durr (honorable mention) also earned postseason recognition.
In 2017-18, Pham anchored the men's basketball team to a then program record 13 wins overall and eight wins in the Cal Pac. The 8-6 conference record secured the Bobcats a spot in the Cal Pac Tournament, where they defeated Cal Maritime in double overtime to advance to their first ever California Pacific Conference Championship game. The Bobcats fell just short, losing 63-62. Pham was instrumental in developing the youngest team in the conference to new heights and saw four players win postseason awards, including the Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year and a pair of Cal Pac First Team members.
The 2016-17 campaign saw a youthful (no seniors and only one junior) men's basketball team end the season 8-18 overall and 6-8 in conference.
In his first season (2015-16), Pham transformed a team who finished 1-28 the previous year into a nine-win team and a postseason appearance.
Pham is the second coach in UC Merced men's basketball history and took over in 2015 as a familiar face to the department. Prior to transitioning to the men's program, he had been with UC Merced for three years as the head women's basketball coach.
Pham was instrumental in the progression of the women's basketball program at UC Merced as he developed the foundation starting in their 2012-13 inaugural season. In three years at the helm, Pham accumulated an impressive resume as he increased the team's record each season, including his final year with a 14-12 overall record (5-5 Cal Pac) in 2014-15. His last season was topped off with a California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship as they defeated #15 nationally ranked Menlo College in the Cal Pac semifinals and secured a trip to the NAIA National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa. It was the first team championship in UC Merced history.
With only two recruiting classes in his three years with the women's program, Pham's development of talent was highlighted by numerous conference honors including two Freshman of the Year, one Newcomer of the Year, three First Team All-Conference, four Second Team All-Conference, three Honorable Mention All-Conference and three Player of the Week honorees. Additionally, two student-athletes were honored as Daktronics-NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Scholar-Athletes.
Pham, a graduate in Economics from University of California, Berkeley and a Sacramento, Calif. native, came to UC Merced with incredible basketball knowledge, passion, strong organizational skills, and successful coaching experience.
Prior to UC Merced, Pham served five years as the assistant head coach for Cosumnes River College (Sacramento, CA) where his main responsibilities included recruiting, practice planning, on-court training, as well as scouting and game preparation. During Pham's tenure at CRC, the Lady Hawks moved up from last place in the conference to achieve three winning seasons, earned back-to-back California College Athletic Association state tournament appearances, and were ranked as high as 5th in Northern California and 14th in the state.
Prior to joining the CRC coaching staff, Pham spent two seasons as a student assistant at Cal Berkeley. At Cal, Pham gained valuable experience working with and developing the guard positions.
Pham also spent one season as an assistant varsity coach at Sacramento Waldorf High School. At Waldorf, the team compiled a 19-10 record and advanced to the San-Joaquin section semifinal playoff game.
Known for his passion and knowledge of the game, Pham has worked at some of the nation's top basketball camps including those at Cal, Texas A&M, Texas, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Villanova. Coach Pham was also the subject of a published article for SLAM Magazine (Slamonline.com, 12/26/2011).
