Recognized as one of the best centers to ever play at UC Davis, Aggie All-American Des Abeyta enters her 14th season on the sidelines in 2020-21, working closely with the Aggies’ post players while multi-tasking with her hands in all aspects of the program, including on-court instruction of both offense and defense, scouting, recruiting, and camps. After spending her first 11 years as an assistant, Abeyta was promoted to the position of associate head coach in the summer of 2018.
“Des is one of the most talented, loyal, passionate people that I know,” Head Coach Jennifer Gross said. “She has been instrumental in helping our program reach a high level of success, investing so much into our student-athletes and serving as an incredible role model for them. Her work ethic is outstanding and her recruiting efforts have helped us bring in top-notch players and students. Des is a true friend and someone that makes coaching a lot of fun.”
Joining the staff prior to UC Davis’ Division I debut in 2007-08, Abeyta is a well-respected recruiter who has been integral in evaluating and helping secure commitments from some of the top student-athletes on the West Coast. Her recruiting efforts have helped the Aggies consistently bring in people of high character who put the team first and embody the concept of “Aggie Pride.” In addition to her recruiting talents, Abeyta has worked hard to develop the program’s post players who have consistently performed at a very high level.
Her proteges include three-time All-Big West Conference selections Paige Mintun and Alyson Doherty, Celia Marfone, and four-time all-league choice and 2019 Big West Player of the Year Morgan Bertsch, who became the first Aggie to be drafted by a WNBA team in 2019 when she was selected in the third round (29th overall) by the Dallas Wings.
Bertsch, who led the team in scoring during all four of her collegiate seasons, finished her career by setting 11 new career marks — including the most points ever by a UC Davis basketball player, male or female — 11 single-season records, and four more single-game records. Meanwhile, Mintun led the Aggies in scoring in each of her final three seasons, Doherty was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team in her debut and followed that up with three all-conference honors, while Marfone finished among the top 10 in the Big West in rebounding in each of her final three collegiate seasons.
Applying the lessons she learned from her days as a UC Davis student-athlete, Abeyta has helped lead the Aggies to seven postseason appearances in the program’s 13-year Division I history and each of the last four Big West Conference regular season titles — including a Big West Tournament crown and the program’s second-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
Qualifying for the Big West Tournament every year since her return to campus, Abeyta has helped guide her alma mater to a 114-47 overall record over the last five seasons, a Women’s National Invitation Tournament “Sweet 16” appearance in 2017 and, a year later, an “Elite Eight” berth in 2018 — the furthest any team in conference history has ever advanced in that tournament while racking up 28 victories along the way.
Prior to her return to Northern California, Abeyta spent two seasons as the varsity head coach at Forest Ridge HS in Bellevue, Wash. Abeyta also served as an assistant coach at North Seattle Community College from 2001-02.
As an Aggie standout from 1996-99, Abeyta helped UC Davis to a 94-22 overall record during her four seasons. She earned all-West Region honors from both Kodak/WBCA and Daktronics in each of her junior and senior seasons, leading the team in scoring and rebounding both years. Abeyta’s first team Kodak all-West Region selection earned her All-America honorable mention as well.
Additionally, she was named first team all-California Collegiate Athletic Association during the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons. Abeyta also was a member of the Aggie team that finished third at the Div. II NCAA Tournament, playing alongside current head coach Jennifer Gross. She continues to rank among the school’s career leaders in points, rebounds, and blocked shots, while holding a pair of top-10 single-season performances in field goal percentage.
After graduating from UC Davis in 2000 with a degree in organizational studies, Abeyta played professionally for two years in Greece and Portugal before entering the coaching ranks in the state of Washington.
