Women’s Basketball’s Brian Porth Promoted to Associate Head Coach
8/14/2026 6:08:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine women's basketball's Brian Porth was promoted to associate head coach ahead of the upcoming season, head coach Katie Faulkner announced Friday.
"Brian has demonstrated a deep commitment and loyalty to not only myself but this program, community, and university," Faulkner said. "He has fought for the vision since we arrived here and works tirelessly to serve our student-athletes to help them achieve greatness in every aspect of their life. I am genuinely grateful for his leadership and partnership as we continue the build here in Malibu."
In his two years as assistant coach, Porth has been a part of one of the largest program turnarounds in the nation.
As one of two teams in the country without a single returning player for the 2025-26 season, Porth was part of a staff that took four freshmen and eight transfers to Pepperdine's first postseason appearance in seven years.
Last season, the coaching staff turned an eight-win program into a 21 win program for the fifth-best win turnaround among division one teams last season as well as the school's first 20+ win season since 2018-19.
In the NET rankings, the Waves saw the fourth best turnaround in the country, ending the 2025-26 season at 132, compared to 285 at the end of the 2024-25 season. The program also saw the best start in 45 years, ending non-conference 9-3.
Tying the program's record for the longest postseason run, the Waves made it to the Super 16 of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). For the first time ever, Pepperdine hosted two postseason games, ending the short-lived postseason run in Firestone Fieldhouse a perfect 2-0. Pepperdine finished 6th in the West Coast Conference, the team's highest finish in seven years.
Porth also briefly stepped in as the head coach last season in three games as Faulkner had her third child, Cali Jo, in February. In those three games the Waves went 2-1, winning the first conference road game of the season at Santa Clara.
Entering his third year in Malibu, Porth alongside Erika Bean and Kamran Sufi will make up Faulkner's staff for the second consecutive season.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pepperdine women's basketball has made four NCAA postseason appearances in its history, having won the WCC regular-season four times and the WCC Tournament on three occasions. With six All-American selections in program history, the Waves have also seen success in the WNIT Tournament which included a run to the Sweet Sixteen twice, most recently in 2026.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's basketball news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineWBB.
"Brian has demonstrated a deep commitment and loyalty to not only myself but this program, community, and university," Faulkner said. "He has fought for the vision since we arrived here and works tirelessly to serve our student-athletes to help them achieve greatness in every aspect of their life. I am genuinely grateful for his leadership and partnership as we continue the build here in Malibu."
In his two years as assistant coach, Porth has been a part of one of the largest program turnarounds in the nation.
As one of two teams in the country without a single returning player for the 2025-26 season, Porth was part of a staff that took four freshmen and eight transfers to Pepperdine's first postseason appearance in seven years.
Last season, the coaching staff turned an eight-win program into a 21 win program for the fifth-best win turnaround among division one teams last season as well as the school's first 20+ win season since 2018-19.
In the NET rankings, the Waves saw the fourth best turnaround in the country, ending the 2025-26 season at 132, compared to 285 at the end of the 2024-25 season. The program also saw the best start in 45 years, ending non-conference 9-3.
Tying the program's record for the longest postseason run, the Waves made it to the Super 16 of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). For the first time ever, Pepperdine hosted two postseason games, ending the short-lived postseason run in Firestone Fieldhouse a perfect 2-0. Pepperdine finished 6th in the West Coast Conference, the team's highest finish in seven years.
Porth also briefly stepped in as the head coach last season in three games as Faulkner had her third child, Cali Jo, in February. In those three games the Waves went 2-1, winning the first conference road game of the season at Santa Clara.
Entering his third year in Malibu, Porth alongside Erika Bean and Kamran Sufi will make up Faulkner's staff for the second consecutive season.
ABOUT PEPPERDINE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pepperdine women's basketball has made four NCAA postseason appearances in its history, having won the WCC regular-season four times and the WCC Tournament on three occasions. With six All-American selections in program history, the Waves have also seen success in the WNIT Tournament which included a run to the Sweet Sixteen twice, most recently in 2026.
FOLLOW
To stay up-to-date on the latest Pepperdine women's basketball news, follow the Waves on social media @PepperdineWBB.
