Mar 19, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; UC San Diego Tritons head coach Eric Olen during practice at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – UC San Diego men’s basketball is entering a new era after a historic season that put the program on the national map. Head coach Eric Olen, who led the Tritons through their transition to Division I and into March Madness, has officially announced his departure to take the head coaching job at the University of New Mexico.
Olen’s departure comes after a dream season for UCSD. In their first year of postseason eligibility, the Tritons finished with a 30-5 record, won both the Big West Conference regular season and tournament titles, and pushed Michigan to the brink in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It was a meteoric rise for a program that was playing Division II basketball just a few years ago.
When Olen took the helm in 2013, UCSD was still in the early stages of its transition to Division I. Athletics Director Earl Edwards believed he had the right leadership in place to guide the program through the transition, but even he may not have foreseen such rapid success.
With Olen’s move to New Mexico following Richard Pitino’s departure to Xavier, UCSD is once again turning to a familiar face to take the program forward. The Tritons have officially promoted associate head coach Clint Allard to the head coaching role, keeping the continuity that has been a hallmark of their success.
Allard is no stranger to the Tritons. A four-year starter from 2005-2008, he ranks in the program’s top-10 in multiple statistical categories and has been part of the coaching staff since 2014. Over the past decade, he has earned a reputation as one of the best defensive minds in the country, overseeing a UCSD defense that led the nation in forced turnovers last season.
“I am truly honored and excited to step into the role of UC San Diego Men’s Basketball Head Coach,” said Allard in a statement. “UC San Diego is a remarkable institution that I have been fortunate to be a part of for many years, and the opportunity to lead this program is a dream come true.”
Allard will now be tasked with maintaining UCSD’s momentum and building on the foundation Olen established. With a roster still loaded with talent and a defensive identity that has become a calling card for the program, expectations will remain high for the Tritons as they continue to establish themselves as a force in the Big West and beyond.
As UC San Diego looks ahead to the 2024-25 season, the transition from Olen to Allard marks the beginning of a new chapter—one that the Tritons hope will be just as successful as the last.
