THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran Head Women's Basketball Coach
Kelli DiMuro has announced the promotion of
Melissa Sanchez to Associate Head Coach.
Sanchez enters her fifth season with the Regals after returning to the program ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. She originally joined Cal Lutheran as an assistant coach in the summer of 2021 and spent three seasons helping elevate the program before serving as the video coordinator at the United States Air Force Academy during the 2024-25 season. She returned to the Regals this past year and will now serve as Associate Head Coach.
"Melissa has been an invaluable part of our program, and this promotion is well deserved," said DiMuro. "She is an outstanding coach whose knowledge, work ethic, and passion continue to elevate our team. The relationships she builds with our student-athletes, combined with her positive energy and competitive drive, make her an exceptional leader for the Regals."
In her first stint with the Regals from 2021-24, Sanchez played a key role in the program's rise within the SCIAC. After a 7-16 campaign in her first season, Cal Lutheran improved to 15-10 in 2022-23 before capturing the 2023-24 SCIAC regular season championship with a 19-7 overall record. During that time, she served as the program's lead recruiter, helped develop player workout programs, managed team travel logistics, and oversaw the team's social media presence.
Following a season at Air Force, Sanchez returned to the Regals for 2025-26, helping guide Cal Lutheran to one of its most successful seasons in recent history. The Regals finished 22-5 overall and 13-3 in SCIAC play, claimed the SCIAC regular season championship, and earned national recognition in both the WBCA and D3hoops.com polls. Cal Lutheran also established itself as the conference's top defensive team while leading the SCIAC in rebounding.
Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Sanchez spent nine seasons coaching high school basketball, including three years as a head coach at Pasadena High School. She guided the Bulldogs to the second round of the CIF playoffs in her first season before leading the program to its first Pacific League championship in 14 years during the 2019-20 campaign. That season also saw Pasadena reach the CIF quarterfinals, and Sanchez was named the San Gabriel Valley Coach of the Year. She followed that with another undefeated Pacific League championship season in 2020-21 and another playoff appearance.
Before taking over at Pasadena, Sanchez spent four seasons as a varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach at Burbank High School and two seasons in the same role at La Salle High School, where the varsity team captured the Santa Fe League championship with an undefeated league record during the 2017-18 season.
Sanchez's promotion recognizes her continued impact on the Regals program as Cal Lutheran builds on the success of its recent championship seasons.
