PLNU Athletics

Alan Nakamura enters his 14th year as assistant coach with the Point Loma women's basketball team in 2014-15. With his help, the Sea Lions won at least 20 games and advancing to the NAIA National Tournament in seven of the final eight years the team competed in the NAIA. The team's high points were achieving #2 National Ranking in 2007-08 and 2009-10 and advancing to the 2004-05 NAIA "Final Four" while winning 33 games. PLNU advanced to the NAIA "Elite Eight" in 2003-04 and 2007-08.
 
Last season, Point Loma went 18-10 and 13-7 in the Pacific West Conference to tie for third in the standings. The Sea Lions also reached the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) West Regional for the second straight season. Callie Rhoads and Jessica Escorza both were named NCCAA All-Americans and four earned All-PacWest honors. The Sea Lions ranked second in the conference with 65.7 points allowed per game and led the league with 11.9 steals per game.

Nakamura's main responsibilities with the PLNU basketball program include developing the perimeter players, scouting, running the defense and serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. PLNU has finished first in defense in the GSAC and in 2009-10 finished as the top defensive team in the NAIA. When not attending to basketball matters, Nakamura teaches in the kinesiology department at PLNU, including Foundations of Coaching and Psychology of Sports Performance.
 
In 2009-10, the Sea Lions to a 26-5 overall record, the eighth consecutive season of 20 or more wins. PLNU posted a 17-3 conference mark, good for third place. The team finished eighth in the final NAIA rankings and was an at-large berth to the national tournament. In the 2008-09 campaign the Sea Lions posted a 25-6 overall record and were second in the GSAC at 17-3 in the GSAC. PLNU won two games at the NAIA National Championships, finishing in fifth place. In the prior season, the Sea Lions went 29-3 overall, 19-1 in conference and won both the regular season and GSAC tournament titles.
 
Prior to joining Coach Westphal’s staff in 2000, Nakamura was a teacher, counselor, and coach at Horizon and Santa Fe Christian high schools. Over the years he coached high school baseball, football, and girls and boys basketball, and surfing, as well as junior college football, and club basketball and baseball. In two years as the head coach at Horizon Christian Academy he led the girls basketball team to the San Diego CIF Finals and semi-Finals, and the Southern California Regional Tournament.

Nakamura was the Southern California Masters surfing champion two times. He surfed in the National Amateur Championships four times, was on the National Champion San Diego State Surf Team, and spent time on the Professional Surfing Association of America tour.
 
A graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in psychology and from Azusa Pacific University with a Master’s degree in education/physical education, Nakamura brings a wealth of coaching and teaching experience.
 
A California native, Nakamura lives in the Claremont area with his wife, Franci, and their sons Kealoha, Kalani and Alec, and daughter Selah-Joy. He enjoys spending time with his family, surfing and reading.