Hanks steps down as Irvine Valley women's basketball coach; Will continue to teach

IRVINE - The winningest coach in Irvine Valley women's basketball history, Julie Hanks, has stepped down.

A legend at IVC, Hanks has won titles and awards, but especially, guided and moved on so many Irvine Valley student-athletes to continue their athletic and academic careers.

"I am going to miss coaching," Hanks said. "The staff and administration at Irvine Valley have been so helpful and supportive. And there are so many coaches at our level that do a great job. I am going I to miss them. But it was time to move on.

"I am going to miss being around the players the most. It will be hard not being in the gym each and every day and working with them."

Hanks finished her 25th year with the IVC women's basketball team after the 2021-22 campaign - and it featured the program's fourth-straight Orange Empire Conference title.

She was named OEC coach of the year for the fourth straight year and it was a record, four-year run.

"The last four years were incredible," Hanks said. "The chemistry, the work ethic, the commitment with the the groups, made the experience so much fun and rewarding."

Over the last four years, Hanks registered an incredible 100-17 record.

- 26-3 in 2021-22 (state appearance)

- 25-3 in 2019-20

- 23-6 in 2018-19

- 26-5 in 2017-18 (state appearance)

This past season of 2021-22 was the best in women's basketball history at the college.

Hanks, who ends with a record of 440-228 overall, guided Irvine Valley to its third California Community College Athletic Association State Championship appearance last year.

The Lasers ended with a record of 26-3 overall. IVC fell in the semifinals of state to San Joaquin Delta, 77-74, in a game that went down to the wire at West Hills Lemoore in March.

"It was a special season and we were so close," Hanks said. "We were almost there. We did everything the right way."

Still, a record six Irvine Valley players signed with four-year colleges after the 2021-22 season (Morgan Higgins (Westcliff), Katie Nguyen (Westcliff), Paola Roa (Cal State LA), Sarah Matossian (Vanguard), Jessica Suruor (Holy Names) and Rachel Gafford (Simpson).

Both Higgins and Matossian were named first team all-state and Higgins was selected as the conference MVP and offensive player of the year.

"If it wasn't for those players and everyone that has come through our program we wouldn't have had so much success," Hanks said. "I did some, but without them, it doesn't happen. Not only that, but I am proud of the academics and the team GPA we created here. I take pride in the players that have moved on from our program."

During the 2019-20 season, Irvine Valley finished with a record of 25-3 overall, won its third straight Orange Empire Conference title and reached the So. Cal. Regional Final.

A year earlier (2018-19), IVC ended with a record of 23-6, captured a conference title and reached the So. Cal. Regionals.

Irvine Valley reached the state tournament for the second time in program history during the 2017-18 season, racked up 26 wins and earned a share of the conference title under the leadership of Hanks.

Five sophomores - Kasey Smit (Cal Poly Pomona), Kiara Warren (Cal Maritime), Mary Dishoian (La Verne) and Elizabeth Garcia and Jenna Rodriguez (Ottawa) signed with four-year schools after the 2017 season. Smit broke school records for points and rebounds in a season and was named the conference MVP, all-state and All-American. 

Hanks also guided the Lasers to a fine season during the 2015-16 campaign. Irvine Valley finished with a record of 23-8 overall, took second in the Orange Empire Conference and made the So. Cal. Regional Final for the second straight season.

Hanks guided the Lasers to one of the best seasons in program history in 2014-15.

The team won 27 games, which was the second-most ever, made the So. Cal. Regional Final. IVC went 12-0 to win the OEC title and racked up several impressive individual awards, including Breanna Turner and Jordan Coleman being named honorable mention All-Americans, Turner being picked all-state and the conference MVP.

Four players - Turner, Conerie Brennan, Karli Kato and Erika Pagkalinawan signed to play at four-year schools.

Hanks had success early on at IVC, as well.

In her first year coaching at Irvine Valley during the 1998-99 season, she helped lead the Lasers to a conference title with a record of 13-1 and the program's first trip to the state tournament at Concordia University in Irvine.

Hanks' first team finished the season with the best record in school history at 28-7.

"That first year that I was hired was so special," Hanks said. "We had eight players and we fought all year and made it to the state tournament. That was something that started this journey off."

Before arriving at Irvine Valley, Hanks was the head coach at Grand Canyon University from 1993-1997. She led Grand Canyon to its first ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1997. She spent the 1992-93 season as the head coach at Phoenix College where she was named coach of the year.

Hanks played college basketball at Northern Arizona University and was inducted into that school's Hall of Fame in 1994. Her most memorable moment at Northern Arizona was beating the University of Arizona and scoring a record 25 points in the first half. She received her bachelor's degree in 1987 from Cal State Hayward and her master's degree in 1989 from Azusa Pacific University.

Hanks has played professionally in Switzerland and was an alternate player on the WNBA Phoenix Mercury in 1997.

(Brent Shaver, IVC Athletics)