Overview:
Pasternack coached UCSB this season to a school-record 27 victories and its second NCAA Tournament berth in three years
Joe Pasternack, considered to be one of the leading candidates for the vacant head basketball coaching position at the University of California-Berkeley, announced Friday night that he plans to remain at UC Santa Barbara.
He said he agreed Friday night to a contract extension to coach the Gauchos through the 2027-28 season.
“Anytime you have the success that we’ve had, people are going to knock on your door,” Pasternack said of the Cal opening. “That’s a tribute to our players, our staff, everybody, not just me.
“But for me, I love our players, I love the Santa Barbara community. They’ve really treated us like family, the entire Santa Barbara community. The boosters have been unbelievable.
“I can’t ask for a better situation than we have with them.”
Pasternack, who previously served as an assistant coach at Cal from 2001 to 2007, has compiled a win-loss record of 132-53 during his six seasons at UCSB. He’s guided the Gauchos to two NCAA Tournament berths in the last three years and set a school record for victories with this season’s mark of 27-8.
Kelly Barsky, UCSB’s director of athletics, tweeted a “thank you” to Pasternack for his “commitment and service to our Gaucho campus and community. Excited to announce your contract extension and continue to service alongside you.”
UCSB officials said they plan a formal announcement next week. Pasternack said they are “still hammering out all the details” of the five-year extension.
He had his annual pay increased to $519,499 with a previous contract extension in 2021 after having coached the Gauchos to a Big West Conference championship and their first NCAA Tournament berth in a decade.
“I’m so very lucky to have an amazing A.D., Kelly Barsky, work so hard on this situation,” Pasternack said. “I’m very grateful to her and chancellor (Henry) Yang.
“That’s a really big deal in college athletics, to have alignment with your administration. Kelly and chancellor Yang deserve all the credit in this.”
He said he’s been visiting recruits ever since the Gauchos’ season ended with last week’s loss to Baylor at the NCAA South Regional in Denver.
“I’ve been recruiting nonstop,” Pasternack said. “We’re turning over every rock, whether it’s international kids, whether it’s juco (junior college), high school or the transfer portal.
“We lost a lot of players so we have to reload here. Our staff has been relentless on the recruiting trail.”
He does return sophomore point guard Ajay Mitchell, who won Big West Conference Player of the Year honors. Pasternack said fellow starting guard Josh Pierre-Louis could also take advantage of a COVID bonus year and return next season.