Anthony Mason is entering his third season as head coach of the University of La Verne women's basketball program.
In his debut season with the Leopards, Mason guided the team to their first back-to-back Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Regular Season Championship, finishing with an impressive 13-3 record in conference play. That year, he coached standout Chiara Brown to All-American honors, SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Year, and All-Region recognition. In the 2025 season, Alyssa Smith earned Second-Team All-SCIAC honors under his guidance, while Marissa Howell received the SCIAC’s prestigious Ed Baldwin Award.
Before arriving at La Verne, Mason served as head coach at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, for two seasons. He compiled a 35-17 overall record and a dominant 30-6 mark in Liberty League play. During his tenure, the program garnered numerous accolades, including one Liberty League Player of the Year, two Defensive Players of the Year, three All-Liberty League First Team selections, two D3Hoops.com All-Region honors, and one WBCA Honorable Mention All-American. In recognition of his leadership, Mason and his staff were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021–22. Academically, 11 student-athletes earned Liberty League All-Academic Team honors during his time at Vassar.
Prior to Vassar, Mason served as an assistant coach at Pepperdine University, where he held roles as defensive coordinator and post coach over two seasons. With Mason in Malibu, the Waves recorded a 21-33 record and secured two wins in the West Coast Conference Tournament in 2019–20. He also contributed to the Athletics Department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
Mason's coaching journey also includes two stints as an assistant coach with the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas (2013–15, 2018–19). While with CMS, he helped lead the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, SCIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2014 and 2015, and a school-record 24-win season in 2014.
Between his stints at CMS, Mason returned to his alma mater, Upland High School, where he served as varsity boys’ basketball head coach and guidance counselor. His teams reached the CIF Southern Section 2AA semifinals and CIF State Playoffs in 2018, posting the second-best finish in program history. Under his leadership, Upland secured several victories against top-ranked teams and made playoff appearances in three of four seasons.
From 2004 to 2013, Mason was Upland’s associate head coach, where he was instrumental as the defensive coordinator. During that span, the program recorded seven 20-win seasons, a 2007 Baseline League Championship, and three CIF Southern Section Division 1AA Quarterfinal appearances.
Mason earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and completed his Master of Education from Azusa Pacific University in 2013.
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