Hamamoto Named Head Basketball Coach at Saddleback College

Former women's coach takes over men's program with high expectations

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:38pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, conveying the dynamic energy and strategic complexity of the sport.Saddleback College's new basketball coach brings a fresh perspective to the men's program, aiming to build on the team's recent success.Azusa Today

Saddleback College has announced that Jordan Hamamoto will take over as the new head coach of the men's basketball team, effective immediately. Hamamoto had previously served as the head coach of the women's basketball team for the past two seasons, leading them to the Southern California regional finals for the first time in 23 years.

Why it matters

Saddleback's men's basketball program has a strong history, having won three state championships and making the playoffs for the past six seasons. Hamamoto's appointment represents a significant transition for the college's basketball program as he looks to build on the men's team's recent success.

The details

Hamamoto, who was 29-30 in his two seasons as the women's head coach, now takes over a men's program that has high expectations. In his previous role, Hamamoto led the women's team to a 22-9 record in the 2025-26 season, the most wins for the program since 2007-08. Prior to Saddleback, Hamamoto was an assistant coach for the men's program at Cypress College, where he focused on basketball strength and conditioning.

  • Hamamoto's appointment as the new men's basketball head coach at Saddleback College is effective immediately.
  • In the 2025-26 season, Hamamoto led the Saddleback women's basketball team to the Southern California regional finals for the first time in 23 years.

The players

Jordan Hamamoto

The new head coach of the Saddleback College men's basketball team. Hamamoto previously served as the head coach of the women's basketball team at Saddleback for the past two seasons.

Jeff Oliver

The previous head coach of the Saddleback College men's basketball team, who guided the program to five straight playoff appearances.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really grateful for the opportunity to come in and coach a program with so much great history. I'm thrilled that the athletic department had the confidence in me to take over a program that has always had high expectations.”

— Jordan Hamamoto, New Head Basketball Coach, Saddleback College

“I will always be grateful for the opportunity to coach the women's team the past two seasons at Saddleback. I learned a lot about being a head coach and developed some tools to better myself in the future.”

— Jordan Hamamoto, New Head Basketball Coach, Saddleback College

What’s next

Hamamoto will look to build on the men's team's recent playoff success and aim to lead Saddleback to another state championship in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

Hamamoto's transition from the women's program to the men's program at Saddleback College represents an opportunity for the college to maintain its strong basketball tradition and potentially reach new heights under his leadership.