Tamara McDonald enters his first season as an assistant coach at Whittier College in 2025-26. She is a veteran collegiate Coach. Career wise, McDonald is entering her 18th season of collegiate coaching.
Last season McDonald was the Men’s Head Coach at Stanton University. Prior to that McDonald coached at LMU for three years. She also spent a season on the bench at University of Washington in the Pac-12.
Prior to her season at UW, McDonald coached at Citrus College where she led the Owls to 65 wins over the course of five seasons as head coach from 2010-11 through 2014-15.
Prior to Citrus, McDonald served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly Pomona, helping the Broncos to 69 wins in five years including a 50-37 mark over the final three seasons. She closed out her time with the Broncos in 2009-10, helping guide the team to a 22-7 record and the team's first NCAA Tournament berth in five seasons. McDonald also received the State of California's Civil Servant of the Year accolade.
McDonald was a former standout player at Pepperdine from 1999-2003. She was a three-time All-WCC selection, and in 2003 took home WCC Player of the Year honors. McDonald led the Waves to the postseason all four seasons in Malibu, as Pepperdine earned three NCAA appearances and one NIT trip during her time.
“I am thrilled to add Tamara McDonald to our Poet family,” said Dowling. “She is a leadership expert, a learner, and has a great desire to make those around her better in every interaction. We are very fortunate to have someone like Coach Tam around our program, players and coaches. She has great knowledge, experience and presence and is a wonderful role model, teacher, and leader.”
