July 16, 2013
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State women's basketball head coach Stacie Terry filled her final staff vacancy Tuesday when she announced the hiring of Ciara Carl as assistant coach. A standout player at Point Loma Nazarene during her collegiate playing career, Carl returns to southern California after spending the 2012-13 campaign as an assistant at Metro State in Denver, Colo., following a two-year stint in the same capacity at Cal Poly Pomona.
"Ciara will be a great addition to our staff and I am elated that she will be joining us," Terry said. "Ciara has a strong background in strength and conditioning so she will be able to help our players develop on and off the court. She has a tireless work ethic and high basketball IQ that will round out our staff making it one of the best in the country."
During her one season at Metro State, Carl helped coach the Roadrunners to 21 victories and a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament, where they advanced to the second round. Under her tutelage, five Metro State players garnered all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference accolades, including Kristin Valencia, who was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. As a team, the Roadrunners led the RMAC in scoring defense (51.2 ppg) and limited opponents to a league-worst .350 field-goal percentage.
Carl also witnessed success during her tenure at Cal Poly Pomona from 2010-12, as the Broncos compiled a two-year mark of 47-14 (.770) and made a pair of NCAA DII tournament appearances, including a berth in the Elite Eight in 2011. During that season, Carl assisted in the development of senior guard Reyana Colson, who earned All-America honors after capturing the California Collegiate Athletic Association's Most Valuable Player award.
"I am excited for this opportunity to be a part of San Diego State athletics and the women's basketball team," Carl said. "I want to thank Stacie Terry for providing me with this chance to be a part of a special staff and program. I am eager to get started and am looking forward to a great future here as an Aztec."
Prior to arrival at CPP, Carl gained valuable coaching experience during stops with the San Diego Sol, the San Diego Super 60 League, as well as her prep alma mater, Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, N.C.
As a collegian, Carl starred at point guard for PLNU, helping the Sea Lions compile an 83-27 overall record in her final three seasons. During that stretch, PLNU made three consecutive trips to the NAIA tournament, capped by a Final Four appearance in 2005. She still holds the school's career record with 647 assists and ranks second with 277 steals.
Carl received her undergraduate degree in exercise science from PLNU in 2005 and earned her master's of science degree from California University (Pa.) in 2006 with an emphasis in performance enhancement and injury prevention. She later completed an internship at North Carolina State, working with the Wolfpack's strength and conditioning program.
A native of Los Angeles, Carl was raised in Cary, N.C., before graduating from Saint Mary's School in 2000. In addition to earning all-state honors in basketball as a senior, Carl also lettered in volleyball and golf during her prep career.