Story Links LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards has named Clint Allard ’08 the new head men’s basketball coach of the Tritons. Allard becomes the 13th head coach in program history, and the second at the Division I level. Allard will report to Edwards in his new role. “I have […]
LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards has named Clint Allard ’08 the new head men’s basketball coach of the Tritons. Allard becomes the 13th head coach in program history, and the second at the Division I level. Allard will report to Edwards in his new role.
“I have the distinct privilege to announce Clint Allard as our next head men’s basketball coach,” said UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. “As an alumnus of our program, he knows what it means to be a Triton. His successes as our associate head coach were put on full display as we transitioned to Division I, won the Big West regular season and tournament titles, and competed on the national stage. His ability to recruit elite scholar-athletes, his coaching acumen, and his vision for continued success in this competitive climate make him the ideal candidate to lead our program into the future. I’m excited for the Coach Allard era to begin!”
“I am truly honored and excited to step into the role of UC San Diego Men’s Basketball Head Coach,” said Allard. “UC San Diego is a remarkable institution that I have been fortunate to be a part of for many years, and the opportunity to lead this program is a dream come true.”
“I want to sincerely thank Chancellor Khosla, Director of Athletics Earl Edwards, and the entire administration for their trust and support,” Allard added. “I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to Eric Olen for his exceptional leadership and mentorship — his contributions have elevated this program to new heights. Sara, Everly, Reid and I are filled with Triton pride, and we are thrilled to continue embracing and contributing to this incredible community.”
“Clint Allard, a distinguished alumnus and renowned coach, is the perfect fit to lead our storied men’s basketball program into a new era of excellence,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “With his exceptional coaching acumen and deep understanding of our university’s values, Coach Allard is poised to deliver a transformative experience for our scholar-athletes, balancing academic rigor and athletic distinction. As we build upon the momentum of our recent Division I successes, including our Big West Championship, Coach Allard’s visionary leadership will solidify UC San Diego’s position as a national powerhouse in college basketball.”
Allard just completed his 11th season as the program’s Associate Head Coach, a role in which he served since April 2014. He is the architect of the team’s vaunted defense, which led The Big West and ranked sixth nationally, allowing just 61.8 points per game in 2024-25. This season, the Tritons also led the nation in turnover margin (+7.2) and steals (345) and were third nationally with 9.9 steals per game.
Allard replaces two-time Big West Coach of the Year Eric Olen, who was named the head coach at New Mexico. “I couldn’t be happier for Clint and for the program,” Olen said. “There is no better person to lead the program into this next iteration of Triton basketball. I know that he is going to only build on what we’ve done to this point, and truly the future could not be brighter.”Olen appointed Allard to the Associate Head Coach role at UC San Diego in 2014 after Allard spent two seasons on the bench as an assistant coach at fellow CCAA member Cal Poly Pomona. Prior to his stint at Cal Poly Pomona, Allard served as an assistant coach at UC San Diego for four seasons, first joining the staff for its 2008-09 campaign.One of the most prolific players the program has seen, Allard’s name can be found all over UC San Diego’s record books. The former Archbishop Mitty High School product ranks fifth in all-time career assists (414). His 1,150 career points still ranks in the top-15 in school history. In terms of UC San Diego’s Division II-era (2000-01 through 2019-20) career records, Allard ranks first in steals (130) and can be found in the top 10 for points (1,150), field goals made (364), three-point field goals made (123), three-point field goal percentage (.384), rebounds (387), and assists (414).A four-year starter and three-time team captain at UC San Diego, Allard posted career averages of 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 112 games as a Triton.As a senior in 2007-08, Allard was named to the All-CCAA Second Team after averaging 9.8 points and career-highs in rebounds (3.9), assists (4.6) and steals (1.2). He also earned All-CCAA Tournament Team honors that season after leading the Tritons to their first conference tourney championship.Allard graduated from UC San Diego in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science. In 2010, he earned a master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration in Exercise and Sports Science from Concordia in Irvine.Allard and his wife Sara (Robinson), a former UC San Diego softball standout, have two children: Everly and Reid. About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Divisions I and II.
