Shanele Stires

Biography

Shanele Stires, most recently the head coach for six seasons at Cal State East Bay where she led the Pioneers to two CCAA Championships, was named the seventh head coach of the Cal Poly women's basketball program on April 14, 2022 and is in her fourth season. In 2024-25, Stires led the Mustangs to the quarterfinals of the Big West Championship and a 14-win season. She also saw two players earn All-Big West honors in Annika Shah and Mary Carter. In 2023-24, Stires' second season as head coach, the Mustangs ended the season with a 17-14 overall season record. They were 13-7 in the Big West Conference. Stires led 3 Mustangs to All-Big West accolades this season with Natalia Ackerman receiving First Team All-Big West and All-Defensive Team, Mary Carter taking home the All-Freshmen Team and Annika Shah with an Honorable Mention award. Ackerman also earned her first Big West All- Academic selection. Stires led the Mustangs through a banner season with 17 home game wins for the first time since the 2017-18 season, along with sending them to the WNIT Postseason Tournament since 2014. In her first season leading the Mustangs in 2022-23, Stires helped Cal Poly more than triple its win total from the previous season. During the season, Cal Poly had a three-game win streak for the first time in more than two years and beat UCSB for the first time in two years. They also were 2-0 against Mountain West opponents, beating both Fresno State and San Jose State. The Mustangs ranked second in t