CSUB men's basketball drops 12th straight, announces head coach search; Jockey Club; Condors; Motor Sports; College weekend
On the same day California State University, Bakersfield administrators announced in a statement it will conduct a nationwide search for its next men’s basketball head coach, the current Roadrunners, under the direction of acting head coach Michael Scott, dropped their 12th straight Big West Conference game Thursday, an 84-72 setback at UC San Diego.
Ronald Jessamy scored a season-high 40 points on 14-of-21 shooting and he made 12 of 14 free throws. He also had nine rebounds. Dailin Smith added 17 points for CSUB (8-21 overall, 2-15 Big West). The team, currently in last place in the conference standings, returns to the Icardo Center for a 6:30 p.m. homecoming game today against Long Beach State (8-21, 4-13).
Scott, a veteran assistant coach under previous head coach Rod Barnes, was thrust into the acting head coach role six weeks before the start of the 2025-26 season. Barnes announced he was ending his tenure with CSUB on Sept. 24. Barnes’ son, Brandon, also a veteran assistant, has remained with the team alongside Scott.
Injuries to CJ Hardy, Smith, Jordan Alexander, Tom Mark, Mike Price and Caleb McCarty and others have contributed to an inconsistent starting lineup and, at times, a lack of production. But even in recent games the team has shown unity and energy despite the record.
The program, which won three national championships as an NCAA Division 2 power in 1993, 1994 and 1997, has been a Division 1 program, first as an independent in 2007-08, then as part of the Western Athletic Conference (2013-14 to 2019-2020) and now the Big West (since 2020-21). Barnes took over the 2011-12 season, winning one WAC championship and getting one NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. Barnes’ coaching record in 14 seasons at CSUB was 210-231, second most wins behind Pat Douglass’ 257, all achieved in 10 seasons of D2 coaching (1987-97).
“Roadrunner basketball and Cal State Bakersfield are one and the same in the hearts of thousands of fans across Kern County because of the thrilling displays of talent we’ve seen on the court and the legacy of excellence that goes back to the earliest days of this university,” CSUB President Vernon B. Harper Jr. said in the statement. “We want to respect our proud history while opening a new era of excellence, thrilling gameplay, student-athlete success, and principled leadership for men’s basketball. And we want this community there by our side, cheering us on.”
CSUB, the statement said, is partnering with CSA Search & Consulting, a North Carolina executive search firm that leverages a nationwide network of search experts and consultants to identify and match candidates with institutions across collegiate athletics and higher education.
“This search is about more than filling a position; it’s about identifying the right leader for this moment in our program’s history,” Sarah Tuohy, acting director of CSUB athletics, said. “CSA brings a level of expertise, discretion, and due diligence that allows us to be intentional in identifying candidates who understand the landscape of Division I athletics and who are prepared to lead with integrity, vision and a championship mindset.”
The search firm has begun meeting with stakeholders, including alumni, supporters and members of the Kern County community, to help identify characteristics and attributes of the ideal head coach. More information on the qualifications and application process is available on the CSA website.
CSUB WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The women’s basketball team lost its seventh straight game Thursday, falling at home to UC San Diego 85-79. UCSD got out to a 25-10 first-quarter lead, but the Roadrunners (7-20, 2-15) outscored the Tritons (19-8, 14-3) in the second, third and fourth quarters.
Second-year head coach Ari Wideman’s team was led by Marley Langi’s 21 points, which included five 3-pointers, and a 17-point night from Maria Dias. Chrishawn Coleman had 11 points. Makayla Rose led the Tritons with 19 points.
The Roadrunners will play at 2 p.m. today against host Long Beach State.
BAKERSFIELD JOCKEY CLUB
Eighteen high school student-athletes will be recognized with awards that encompass their athletic, academic and leadership skills when the Bakersfield Jockey Club conducts its program on Tuesday morning at Hodel’s Country Dining restaurant.
Ben Stinson, a longtime president of his family’s business known today as Stinson’s Office Supplies, will be the guest presenter for the Jockey Club’s awards. He will give awards to student-athletes who represent eight high schools.
They are: Monte Rivera and Emelie Carrillo (boys and girls wrestling), Kaylie Demison (girls soccer) and Samantha Vasquez (girls basketball) from East; Rose Ruiz (girls soccer), Austin Ellingsworth (boys basketball), Avalee Smith (girls basketball) and Ian Pryor (boys wrestling), from North; Mariana Soto and Kimberly Ochoa (both girls basketball) from Arvin; Victoria Leyva (girls soccer) from Shafter; Rosie Rodriguez (girls wrestling), Edgar Perez Garcia and Juan Mendez (both boys soccer) from Mira Monte; Derek Jimenez (boys basketball) from Centennial; Avery Naven (girls wrestling) and Bridget Murphy (girls soccer) from Frontier; and Kaya Bruno (girls wrestling) from Golden Valley.
Breakfast is served buffet style beginning at 8 a.m. for a fee and the awards program begins at 8:30. The nonprofit organization has recently announced it will award six $1,000 scholarships — three boys, three girls — open to seniors who have received a Jockey Club award. For more information, go to its Facebook or Instagram page. Tuesday’s program will be sponsored by International Water Screens and the Bakersfield Coyote Club.
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS
The Condors hockey team plays road games in two Southern California cities this weekend and hopes to regain sole possession of third place in the Pacific Division standings.
Bakersfield (28-16-8), currently tied for third with San Jose at 64 points, will play at 6 p.m. today at Coachella Valley, which is fifth in the standings. The Condors then have a 3 p.m. Sunday game at division-leading Ontario. San Jose (30-15-2) is playing two games at Tucson, today and Sunday.
The Condors will return home for a special 10:30 a.m. Tuesday game against the Colorado Eagles, who are currently in second place. The game is the team’s education day field trip event with local schoolchildren seeing a live hockey game.
MOTOR SPORTS
Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will host a Night of Destruction racing card, along with the ARCA Menards Series West Oil Workers 150 stock car race today. Also on display will be Enduro racing, Figure-8, skid-plate racing, drag-a-boat and the jet-car events. Spectator gates open at 3 p.m., main event racing starts at 5 and the action continues into the evening. Tickets are available at www.kernraceway.com
COLLEGE WEEKEND
The CSUB baseball team is playing a three-game weekend series at Texas Tech in Lubbock. The Roadrunners (4-5) opened the series on Friday and will play at noon today and 9 a.m. on Sunday. All times are Pacific. … the CSUB softball team (2-13) is playing in the dually hosted Arizona State/Grand Canyon Classic tournament. CSUB played Cal Baptist and Grand Canyon on Friday, will play Wisconsin and Cal Baptist a second time today before closing out against Arizona State on Sunday. The softball team’s home opener is at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday against Fresno State. …The women’s beach volleyball team will face The Master’s College and Vanguard University at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at CSUB’s Barnes Beach Volleyball Complex to open the program’s home schedule. … Bakersfield College’s women’s basketball team (20-9) plays a second-round 3C2A Southern California regional game on the road at 7 p.m. today against Moorpark. … Taft College’s women basketball team (19-10) will play a second-round 3C2A Northern California regional game at 7 p.m. today against host Fresno City. … BC softball will host a doubleheader against Santa Ana at 2 p.m. and 4 today … The men’s and women’s swim teams compete at the Mt. SAC Invitational beginning at 8 a.m. today … the BC men’s and women’s track and field teams will compete in the Cerritos College Invitational, beginning at 10 a.m. today.
