High school girls basketball: California coach makes rare leap from preps to top spot in college Division I program

Kelly Sopak of Carondelet (Concord, Calif.) was tabbed Tuesday to lead the University of Nevada women's basketball program.

Sopak, who is a 1995 graduate of Nevada, also was the head coach of WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu when she won the won 2016 Open Division state title at Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.). 

After 12 seasons at Miramonte, Sopak moved to Carondelet in 2020. The Cougars were 25-6 this season.

"As an alum, this place has shaped me in so many ways. I am the person I am today because of my time at this University, and that makes this opportunity deeply meaningful to me," Sopak said in a statement. "I am excited to pour everything I have into this role. We are going to build a program that reflects the toughness, the work ethic, and the spirit of Nevada. I cannot wait to get in the gym with this group of student athletes and get to work."

Sopak replaces Amanda Levens, who spent nine seasons with the Wolf Pack and led the program to 126 wins. The team was 10-21 this season with a first-round exit in the Mountain West Conference tournament.

Regarded as a top club coach with EYBL's Cal Stars, which he founded in 2006, Sopak has captured three national championships and sent scores of players to college. In addition to the Open Division title at Miramonte, he led Carondelet to the Division 1 state title last season and was named the Cal-Hi Sports Coach of the Year.

Sopak heads to Reno with a 541-91 record according to Cal-Hi Sports.