May 7, 2004
(MALIBU, CA - May 7) Julie Rousseau, a Southern California native and former head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, was named the head women's basketball coach at Pepperdine, Director of Athletics, John Watson announced on Friday.
Rousseau becomes the fifth head coach in the 29-year history of the program after spending the previous four years as an assistant on Tara VanDerveer's staff at Stanford. She replaces Mark Trakh who left Pepperdine after 11 seasons to assume the head coaching position at USC on April 14.
"After a national search and interviewing in person several outstanding candidates, I am really excited to announce the hiring of Julie as our new women's basketball coach," Watson said. "She fits in extremely well with our mission statement and her credentials as a coach and recruiter are outstanding.
"I am confident that she will maintain the high level of success the program has enjoyed over the last six seasons and will bring it to even greater heights while recruiting outstanding student-athletes who will graduate."
During Rousseau's four years at Stanford, the Cardinal compiled an overall record of 105-26 (.801), finished first in the Pacific-10 Conference each year while recording a 59-13 mark (.819) and advancing to the NCAA Tournament all four years.
Stanford posted a 27-7 overall record during the 2003-04 season while reaching the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and finishing the year ranked No. 7 nationally.
"I am extremely excited to join the Pepperdine family," Rousseau said. "I am excited to becoming back home. I am a Los Angeles product and I have always received a lot of support from the people in the area while I was a high school coach and also when I was at the LA Sparks.
"I have a lot of mixed feelings about leaving Stanford because I feel it has been a blessing for me to have had the opportunity to be a part of the Stanford family and learning from Tara VanDerveer while receiving tremendous support from everyone associated with the women's basketball program and University.
"At the same time I want to thank John Watson for allowing me the opportunity to join the Pepperdine family. Everyone I met during my time there was extremely professional and am excited to be Wave," Rousseau said. "Pepperdine is everything I was looking for. I share the same Christian values of the University and am looking forward to building upon the winning tradition that has been established."
During her four years at Stanford, Rousseau was involved in recruiting, conditioning and scouting.
Rousseau worked for the Sparks from May 1997-July 1998, serving as an assistant coach, interim head coach and head coach. She was promoted to head coach in December of 1997 and held the position for one year.
Prior to her tenure in the WNBA, she was the head coach at George Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles from 1992-97. She led the Lady Generals to postseason appearances in each of her five seasons, and came away with the L.A. City Championship in 1996. She was also awarded The Budget "Coach of the Year" Award, presented by The Women's Sports Foundation in 1997.
Rousseau was also an assistant and served as head coach of the boy's freshman/sophomore teams during her eight years at George Washington.
She has also been involved in numerous summer leagues and camps, including Hoopin' with Jamila and the Michael Jordan Camp.
