Long Beach State University Athletics
Raru Archer, Brittany Klaman Round out LBSU Women’s Basketball Staff
6/6/2023 10:39:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Archer brings 15 years of coaching experience to the Beach, while Klaman will serve as the director of basketball operations at Long Beach State
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State Head Women's Basketball Coach Amy Wright rounded out her coaching staff with the hiring of Raru Archer as assistant coach and Brittany Klaman as director of basketball operations.
Klaman comes to Long Beach State after a successful Division I career at Eastern Washington and California Baptist. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Klaman came to the United States and began her collegiate career at Eastern Washington where she was a two-year letterwinner and two-time Big Sky All-Academic Team selection. Following her time with the Eagles, Klaman played at CBU for three years where she was a three-time WAC All-Academic Team selection.
She helped the Lancers capture the 2021 WAC Championship in her first season at California Baptist. Klaman averaged 5.6 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game, while totaling 61 steals and 24 blocks while playing for the Lancers.
In her final season at CBU, Klaman hit the game-winner versus Georgia Southern to help the Lancers advance to the WBI Championship game. Klaman finished her collegiate career having played in 160 games to rank in the Top 5 in NCAA Division I games played.
"Brittany comes from a basketball family," said Wright. "Born and raised in Australia, not only will she provide international experience and insight to our staff, but also a solid knowledge of the west coast with playing experience at Cal Baptist. Brittany is in the Top 5 in the NCAA in games played at the Division I level, so this tells me she wants to be present and will go above and beyond at the operations position. I am excited to see her growth professionally at Long Beach State."
Archer brings 15 years of coaching experience to Long Beach State as he comes to the Beach after spending four years at Sam Houston State as an assistant coach. At SHSU, Archer coached 2022 All-WAC First Team selection Faith Cook and 2023 All-WAC Second Team selection and 2022 All-WAC Defensive Team selection Maddie Batista. Under his tutelage, the Bearkats won a program-record nine-straight games and finished the 2019-20 season with the most wins in school history (14). He also mentored 2021 Southland Player of the Year Amber Leggett before the Kats' move to the WAC.
Prior to his time at Sam Houston State, Archer worked for Texas Grassroots Basketball. He went on to serve as the men's basketball assistant coach at Ranger College where he helped the squad to a NJCAA Region V Runner-up finish.
Archer also gained experience coaching on the men's side at Norfolk State where he worked primarily with the guards. At NSU, he coached Pendarvis Williams and Malcolm Hawkins to All-MEAC Second Team accolades.
As the head men's basketball coach at Lackawanna College, Archer's squad won the 2012 NJCAA Region XIX Championship. While at Lackawanna, Archer led his team to three-straight regular season titles and was named 2012 NJCAA Region XIX Coach of the Year.
A native of Trinity, Texas, Archer was an All-State selection at Trinity High School before graduating with a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in human performance from Texas Southern in 2004 and 2007 respectively.
"With over 15 years of experience in the game, I am excited and thankful Raru has decided to join our staff at Long Beach State," said Wright. "Raru has worked his way up the professional coaching ladder with stops at the JC level, managing operations for grassroot and college level programs, and as a Division I assistant. His passion for the student-athletes, seeing them excel both on and off the court, will add the daily juice every program needs. He is a proven recruiter and great at developing life-long relationships."
Klaman comes to Long Beach State after a successful Division I career at Eastern Washington and California Baptist. A native of Melbourne, Australia, Klaman came to the United States and began her collegiate career at Eastern Washington where she was a two-year letterwinner and two-time Big Sky All-Academic Team selection. Following her time with the Eagles, Klaman played at CBU for three years where she was a three-time WAC All-Academic Team selection.
She helped the Lancers capture the 2021 WAC Championship in her first season at California Baptist. Klaman averaged 5.6 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game, while totaling 61 steals and 24 blocks while playing for the Lancers.
In her final season at CBU, Klaman hit the game-winner versus Georgia Southern to help the Lancers advance to the WBI Championship game. Klaman finished her collegiate career having played in 160 games to rank in the Top 5 in NCAA Division I games played.
"Brittany comes from a basketball family," said Wright. "Born and raised in Australia, not only will she provide international experience and insight to our staff, but also a solid knowledge of the west coast with playing experience at Cal Baptist. Brittany is in the Top 5 in the NCAA in games played at the Division I level, so this tells me she wants to be present and will go above and beyond at the operations position. I am excited to see her growth professionally at Long Beach State."
Archer brings 15 years of coaching experience to Long Beach State as he comes to the Beach after spending four years at Sam Houston State as an assistant coach. At SHSU, Archer coached 2022 All-WAC First Team selection Faith Cook and 2023 All-WAC Second Team selection and 2022 All-WAC Defensive Team selection Maddie Batista. Under his tutelage, the Bearkats won a program-record nine-straight games and finished the 2019-20 season with the most wins in school history (14). He also mentored 2021 Southland Player of the Year Amber Leggett before the Kats' move to the WAC.
Prior to his time at Sam Houston State, Archer worked for Texas Grassroots Basketball. He went on to serve as the men's basketball assistant coach at Ranger College where he helped the squad to a NJCAA Region V Runner-up finish.
Archer also gained experience coaching on the men's side at Norfolk State where he worked primarily with the guards. At NSU, he coached Pendarvis Williams and Malcolm Hawkins to All-MEAC Second Team accolades.
As the head men's basketball coach at Lackawanna College, Archer's squad won the 2012 NJCAA Region XIX Championship. While at Lackawanna, Archer led his team to three-straight regular season titles and was named 2012 NJCAA Region XIX Coach of the Year.
A native of Trinity, Texas, Archer was an All-State selection at Trinity High School before graduating with a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in human performance from Texas Southern in 2004 and 2007 respectively.
"With over 15 years of experience in the game, I am excited and thankful Raru has decided to join our staff at Long Beach State," said Wright. "Raru has worked his way up the professional coaching ladder with stops at the JC level, managing operations for grassroot and college level programs, and as a Division I assistant. His passion for the student-athletes, seeing them excel both on and off the court, will add the daily juice every program needs. He is a proven recruiter and great at developing life-long relationships."
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