LA JOLLA, Calif. - Alexis Mezzetta, a member of the UC San Diego women's basketball coaching staff for the past two seasons, has been named the program's top assistant, while former All-American Michelle Osier has also joined the Triton coaching staff for the 2010-11 campaign, head coach Charity Elliott announced Thursday.
The pair of former UCSD standouts will join Elliott and husband Chris to round out the Triton staff next season. Mezzetta replaces Hanna Howard, who left to take the lead assistant job at Utah State, while Osier will serve as the fourth assistant.
Mezzetta joined Elliott's staff in 2008-09 and has helped guide the Tritons to an overall record of 52-10 the last two seasons. UCSD won back-to-back CCAA Championships during that time, while also advancing to NCAA West Regional play both years.
A four-year letterwinner for the Tritons from 2004-08, Mezzetta led UCSD to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Final Four in 2006-07. She posted career averages of 3.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in a total of 102 games as a Triton.
"We are thrilled to be retaining and promoting Alexis to the position of first assistant," Elliott said. "In her short time here as a coach, she has made a tremendous impact on our program, both on the court and in recruiting. This move allows her to continue to expand her experience and will provide her with the title and responsibility she deserves."
Mezzetta will not be the only Triton alum on the sidelines next season, as Osier has also been named an assistant coach on Elliott's staff. UCSD's all-time career rebounding and steals leader, Osier returns to La Jolla after spending the past season playing professionally in Austria.
One of the best players the program has ever seen, Osier posted career averages of 13.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.5 steals in a total of 127 games. She was named the West Region Player of the Year and a State Farm Coaches All-American as a senior in 2008-09 after averaging team-highs of 15.4 points and 9.0 rebounds, while leading the Tritons to a 27-5 overall record and a 19-1 mark in CCAA play.
The Placerville, Calif. native also graduated as UCSD's career leader in rebounds (1,188) and steals (319), setting both marks in her final season as a Triton.
"We are so happy that Michelle is returning to UCSD as a coach," Elliott continued. "Her work ethic and passion on the court are legendary in our program and I have no doubt that she will do a great job of passing some of her wisdom down to our players."
UCSD will open the 2010-11 season with exhibition contests against San Diego State and Stanford in early November, before kicking off the regular season at the Disney West Coast Tip Off Classic November 12-14 in Anaheim.
