Kelly Sopak enters his first season as head coach of the University of Nevada women’s basketball program after being named the Wolf Pack’s head coach on March 24, 2026.
Sopak arrives in Reno as one of the most accomplished coaches, teachers, and talent developers in women’s basketball. The founder of the nationally recognized Cal Stars Basketball Club and a championship-winning high school coach in California, Sopak has spent more than two decades building successful programs and developing players who have excelled at the collegiate, professional, and international levels.
In 2025, Silver Waves Media recognized Sopak as one of the 100 Most Impactful People in Women’s Basketball.
Throughout his coaching career, Sopak has worked with some of the game’s most accomplished players. His résumé includes nine WNBA Draft selections, 25 USA Basketball athletes, 18 McDonald’s All-Americans, and 17 Gatorade Players of the Year.
Among his most notable former players is Olympic gold medalist and WNBA All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. Sopak coached Ionescu at both Cal Stars and Miramonte High School before she went on to one of the most decorated collegiate careers in women’s basketball history at Oregon. Ionescu became the No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 WNBA Draft and helped Team USA capture the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Sopak came to Nevada following six successful seasons at Carondelet High School in Concord, California, where he helped establish the Cougars as one of the state’s premier programs.
During his tenure, Carondelet compiled a 143-31 record, captured the 2025 CIF Division I State Championship, won three North Coast Section championships, made three CIF Northern Regional championship game appearances, and captured the 2025 Northern Regional title. Following the championship season, Sopak was named the 2024-25 Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year.
In January 2025, Sopak earned the 500th victory of his high school head coaching career, joining an elite group of California girls basketball coaches to reach the milestone. He enters the collegiate ranks with a career high school head coaching record of 541-97.
Prior to Carondelet, Sopak spent 12 seasons at Miramonte High School, where he built one of California’s most successful girls basketball programs. The Matadors posted a 304-46 record during his tenure while winning five North Coast Section championships, seven league championships, and the 2016 CIF Open Division Northern California Championship.
From 2013 through 2016, Miramonte compiled a remarkable 119-9 record while establishing itself among California’s elite programs and advancing to the CIF State Championship Game.
Sopak began his varsity head coaching career at Northgate High School after serving as an assistant under longtime coach Mark Bucklew. During four seasons as Northgate’s head coach, his teams posted a 94-20 record, captured three league championships, and advanced to two North Coast Section championship games before he accepted the head coaching position at Miramonte.
Beyond the high school ranks, Sopak established himself as one of the nation’s premier grassroots basketball coaches and program builders through the Cal Stars Basketball Club, which he founded in 2006.
During his two decades leading the organization, Sopak helped more than 400 student-athletes earn opportunities to play college basketball while developing Cal Stars into one of the country’s most respected grassroots and player-development programs.
Under Sopak’s leadership, Cal Stars captured the 2015 and 2021 Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Championships. His 17U teams won three national championships, finished as national runner-up once, made two additional Final Four appearances, and accumulated more than 1,000 victories.
His reputation as a teacher and player developer also led to his selection as a court coach for the 2015 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team Trials.
Sopak’s coaching philosophy is rooted in relationships, player development, accountability, competitiveness, and daily improvement. His teams have consistently been defined by unselfish play, attention to detail, competitive toughness, and a commitment to excellence on and off the court.
At Nevada, Sopak has established the program’s foundation around three principles:
CONNECT. COMMIT. COMPETE.
His vision is to develop a championship culture capable of competing annually for Mountain West championships, NCAA Tournament appearances, and national recognition while providing Nevada student-athletes with an exceptional experience on the court, in the classroom, and throughout the Reno community.
Through elite player development, innovative offensive systems, relentless competitiveness, and a family atmosphere built on trust and accountability, Sopak is committed to building sustained success at Nevada and creating a destination program for elite student-athletes.
A 1995 graduate of the University of Nevada, Sopak earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He and his wife, Beverley, also a University of Nevada graduate, have two daughters. Lauren serves as Vice President of Event Operations for Nike Tournament of Champions, while Leah is an assistant coach with the TCU women’s basketball program in Fort Worth, Texas.
