Ryan Weisenberg

Ryan Weisenberg, who boasts coaching experience ranging from the high school to professional levels, became the sixth head coach in the history of Pepperdine women's basketball when he was named to the position on April 23, 2013. He enters his fourth season at the helm for the Waves heading into the 2016-17 season.

Weisenberg joined the Pepperdine staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2012-13 season and was promoted to the top job after Julie Rousseau resigned.

In his first season leading the program, Weisenberg guided the Waves through a rebuilding season that was ultimately plagued by injuries down the stretch. The Waves did win their opening game of the WCC Tournament, defeating Santa Clara 80-74. The team finished the season 6-25, improving their win total from the year prior. Still in a rebuilding phase, the Waves again upped their win total to eight victories in 2014-15, three of which came in WCC play. Pepperdine grabbed another win in the WCC Tournament this past season (2015-16), beating Pacific in the opening round to advance to the quarterfinals for the second time in three years under Weisenberg.

"Ryan Weisenberg is a great fit as our new women's basketball head coach," said Director of Athletics Steve Potts at the time of Weisenberg's hiring. "He brings a strong commitment to our Christian mission, to the academic development and well-being of our student-athletes and to building a high quality women's basketball program that competes for West Coast Conference championships annually. Ryan is a man of great character and integrity and possesses an extraordinary work ethic. His varied experiences in basketball at the highest level have prepared him for this challenge and we look forward to a bright future for Pepperdine women's basketball."

Said Weisenberg at his hiring: "This is the best University in the country filled with incredible people. I'm blessed to be part of an athletic department with exceptional coaches like Marv Dunphy, Nina Matthies and Marty Wilson, among others. I would like to thank President (Andrew) Benton and Dr. Potts for having the faith in me to lead this program toward a bright future."

Prior to joining the Waves' staff, Weisenberg spent three seasons with the Manawatu Jets, a New Zealand-based professional team, serving as both the head coach and the director of basketball operations. In his final season, the Jets finished third in the New Zealand National Basketball League and made a final four appearance in the playoffs. Weisenberg tutored the league's Most Valuable Player, Nick Horvath, as well as its top scorer, Josh Pace.

Weisenberg began his coaching career in 1995 at Mission Prep High School in San Luis Obispo, Calif., as the boys' junior varsity head coach and assistant coach to the varsity squad. Two years later, he was hired as a video coordinator at his alma mater, Cal Poly. He was charged with developing video scouting reports for the Mustangs, as well as managing travel schedules for recruiting.

In September 1999, Weisenberg began working simultaneously as both the South Pasadena High School boys' varsity head coach and the Los Angeles Lakers' assistant video coordinator and advance scout. He parted ways with South Pasadena in 2003 and stayed on with the Lakers until 2005.

During the NBA offseason, Weisenberg shifted his focus to the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks. From 2000-05, he was on staff as an assistant coach and served an interim head coaching stint in 2004.

The Sparks reached three consecutive WNBA Finals, winning it all in 2001 and 2002. Coupled with the Lakers' championship wins in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Weisenberg owns five championship rings and is just one of a small handful of people to win an NBA and WNBA championship in the same year.

Weisenberg left the Lakers and Sparks in 2005 to assume the position of history teacher and head girls' basketball coach at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif.

He returned to the WNBA prior to the 2007 season, working as an assistant coach for the Houston Comets. Weisenberg was charged with calling defensive plays, assisting with practices, scouting and several other duties.

Prior to making the move to New Zealand in 2010, Weisenberg was an assistant coach at La Salle Catholic High School located in Sierra Madre, Calif.

Weisenberg earned his master's degree in education from Azusa Pacific in 2002 and a bachelor's degree in history from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1997. Weisenberg lettered in basketball and football at St. Francis High School, located in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.

Weisenberg is married to Lyndsey (née Hache'), who played for the Pepperdine women's volleyball team from 2001-03 and was a three-time All-West Coast Conference first team performer. She still ranks fourth in the Waves' record book with a career hitting percentage of .333. Lyndsey currently works as the director of operations for the Pepperdine women's volleyball program. The couple has three children, Daly, Reese and Jack.