By Erick Flores, September 23, 2025
The Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team’s new assistant coach Cassandra Lacey brings multiple things to the table including her passion, a strong playing career and a resume that’s only getting bigger, her fellow coaches said.
“She has a great personality, competitive work ethic, strong build of healthy player to coach relationships, is a winner and values academics,” said head coach Danielle Bishop.
Assistant coach Lorenzo Griffin also gave high praises for the way Lacey conducts herself with the young women she comes across on the team. He said she keeps it respectful, always says things how it is and makes sure she is always being transparent with everyone. Helping them become better both on and off the court has always been her focus.
“She’s a people person who wants to give back to the young adults because basketball did a lot for her,” Griffin said.
Before coming to CPP, Lacey played at the University of Redlands from 2016-2020. In addition to being in the top 10 in points, assists and starts, she also ended her career with 1,000 career points, earning her two first-team ALL-SCIAC selections: SCIAC Athlete of the Year honors and All-West Region honors.
In her senior year, she had a season high in points that led the Bulldogs to their first NCAA tournament berth in over a decade, where they beat the No. 8 team in the nation the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the opening rounds.
Post-college life wasn’t always straightforward for Lacey, she said. But, after a bit of time, an opportunity arose.
“I planned on being done with basketball,” Lacey said. “Ten to11 months humbled me after college. (An) ex-opponent of mine contacted me for a coaching job eventually.”
While Lacey was an assistant coach at Redlands in the 2023-2024 season, she had many roles from equipment operations to recruitment for all varsity and junior varsity teams, and she conducted high school camps. After heading to Cal State Fullerton, she continued to have various roles including recruitment.
Also, since Lacey is familiar with the life of a student athlete, she understands the importance of building a foundation and chemistry with the players and that academics outside the court can go a long way.
“She’s only been here a couple weeks, but from day one has held the ladies to a standard and in the classroom how to conduct themselves outside the court,” Griffin said.
Lacey emphasized the downside of coasting through life and said putting in the hard work that will eventually pay off.
Lacey also knows the importance of being a role model for the young women and said she built up these young women and helped them grow because basketball did and continues to do so much for her. She grabbed her passion and wants to use that to build others up everyday , brick by brick.
“My dream is to go be the head coach for my Alma Mater,” Lacey said. With the goal set and multiple accolades in the resume the future is in good hands with Lacey.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics