Joan Bonvicini (1996) - Hall of Fame - Long Beach State University Athletics

Joan Bonvicini

Induction:
1996

Bonvicini was a 25-year old assistant coach when she inherited a strong 49er basketball program from Hall of Fame Coach Fran Schaafsma in 1980. To say that Bonvicini took the 49ers to the next level is an understatement. During her her 12-year stay at Long Beach, Bonvicini amassed a 325-71 record, obviously a major factor in the 49ers becoming the first women's program in the country to reach 500 victories. Eleven of Bonvicini's 12 teams at Long Beach finished the season ranked in the Associated Press Top-10. Her 1985 club finished third and she took two 49er teams to the NCAA Final Four. All of her 49er teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament. She left Long Beach State to become the head coach at the University of Arizona, where she has continued that success.