After three seasons with previous head coach Skyler Young, Seattle University Women’s Basketball is undergoing a leadership change this spring. Vice President for Athletics Shaney Fink announced March 2 that Young’s contract would not be renewed for another season. Just two and a half weeks later, John Bonner from California State University, Fullerton, was named the new head coach. Young had an overall record of 15-73 with the Redhawks.
Fink explained that the end of Young’s contract was a chance to align the team with the goals of Seattle U Athletics as a whole.
“There’s an opportunity to redirect the program, so we can have more success and reflect the excellence that we expect of our athletics programs,” Fink said. “Our goal is really to have a women’s basketball program that reflects the excellence of the university.”
Bonner was head coach at Fullerton for the 2025-26 season, leading the team to the Big West Conference quarterfinals and their best season in over two decades. Prior to his time at Fullerton, Bonner coached at Division 2 CSU Dominguez Hills; from 2016 until 2025, he led the team to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship five times, including their CCAA conference win in the 2024-25 season. Before his time in the NCAA, Bonner was the assistant coach at NAIA Fresno Pacific University from 2010 to 2016. Prior to this, he worked as a graduate assistant and manager for Fresno State Women’s basketball and got his start in the profession by coaching at a middle school.
With a background in psychology and counseling, Bonner hopes to create a team culture centered around supporting athletes on and off the court. He has a deep appreciation for mentorship and the ability to recognize when athletes might be facing mental challenges that impact their performance, aiming to help them work through it to find success.
“I want to be able to create a team of good people that represent our university well,” Bonner said. “I want them to grow and have the tools necessary to be successful citizens once this thing is over.”
A driving factor for Bonner in choosing Seattle U was the community on campus. He already has big plans to contribute to the university’s energy and culture. His plans for the team include implementing a fast, exciting play style, using press and a faster pace to keep opponents on edge. Bonner wishes to use the team’s strengths while also making opponents feel off balance and keeping the pace intense.
“I haven’t coached a team where we have been outside of the top 4 in offense per game. We’re going to score a lot of points, but again, that’s a byproduct of our defense and our ability to make teams feel uncomfortable, [force them to] turn the ball over and turn those into scores,” Bonner said.
Fink emphasized winning and competing at a high level, especially now that Seattle U is part of the WCC, as reasons for this transition. She pointed to Bonner’s past successes in smaller, less resourced programs as a key part of his selection as head coach.
The shift in program leadership for women’s basketball is motivated by the desire for success at games, but also the culture of women’s sports in the city. Fink and Bonner both talked about the widespread culture surrounding women’s sports in Seattle, and the impact that enthusiasm has on Seattle U.
“For women’s sports, there is not a better city. We have more professional women’s sports teams than any other place in the country, so there’s an opportunity and almost responsibility to make sure our programs are reflecting that,” Fink said. “I’m excited to see us not only have more success on the court, but bring more energy into the program through fans, camps, and all the different ways that you can bring that community together.”
Bonner’s first task as head coach will be to build the team’s roster. As athletes face graduation or are contemplating the transfer portal, Bonner met with those who could continue with Seattle U to speak about his plans for the team’s culture and strategy. Ultimately, his goal is to form a roster of women who will embody good character and strong athletic ability for the program.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, this leadership change for women’s basketball will bring with it new approaches to playing and assert the Redhawks as a strong program in a city that has a long history of high-level women’s basketball. Bonner is excited to bring his coaching to Seattle U and make his mark in Seattle.
“It won’t be the same brand of basketball that people have watched here with Seattle U for a while,” Bonner said. “Definitely be a new style and new pace, and we hope to have a lot of excitement for everyone to come and see.”
