Curry Expected to Get Titan Coaching Job

FULLERTON —  Denise Curry, a three-time All-American as a college player at UCLA and a former Olympian, is expected to be named coach of the Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball team.

An athletic department spokesman said a press conference is planned for today to announce a new coach, but declined further comment. Curry also declined comment Thursday.

Curry, who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame this year, was an assistant last season for the San Jose Lasers in the women’s American Basketball League.

She also was an assistant coach for six years at California under Gooch Foster. When Foster retired a year ago, Cal hired Marianne Stanley, who brought in her own staff, and Curry was hired by the Lasers.

The Lasers were one of four teams to qualify for the ABL playoffs this season, but they were eliminated in the first round.

Curry played professionally for eight seasons in Europe.

As a player at UCLA from 1978-81, Curry set 14 school records and ranks No. 1 in career scoring and rebounding. She set a collegiate record by scoring in double figures in the 130 games she played for the Bruins, including 47 points in one game.

She led the U.S. women’s team to a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

Deborah Ayres resigned as Titan coach after five consecutive losing seasons. Her last team finished 10-16 and was 6-10 in the Big West, failing to qualify for the conference postseason tournament for the second consecutive year.

Ayres’ five-year record was 44-92. Her best season was in 1994-95, when the Titans finished 14-15 and reached the semifinals of the Big West tournament.