Northern Arizona University Women's Basketball

Laura Dinkins was announced as the 13th head coach of the Northern Arizona University women's basketball program on April 1, 2025. The 2025-26 season will be her first on staff.   Dinkins brings 15 seasons of Division I experience with her to Flagstaff, most recently at Grand Canyon University where she spent two seasons as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator under Molly Miller. At GCU, she helped lead the Lopes to a 56-10 (.848) record, including consecutive 24-plus win seasons.   She is no stranger to Northern Arizona, as she was a member of the women’s basketball team from 2003-08 and played on NAU’s lone NCAA tournament team under Laurie Kelly. Dinkins was the Big Sky’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and was named to the All-Big Sky second team in 2008.   “Throughout the search process, it was evident coach Laura Dinkins has an unrivaled passion for Northern Arizona University and our women’s basketball program. With coaching experience spanning from the Big Sky Conference to the Mountain West Conference, a track record of excellence in the classroom and on the court, Laura Dinkins is the ideal coach to lead the Lumberjacks,” said Farkas. “We are thrilled to bring her home to Flagstaff.”   As an assistant coach at the Division I level, Dinkins has recruited and coached 25 all-conference selections, two Players of the Year, four defensive Players of the Year, two Freshman/Newcomers of the Year and two Sixth Players of the Year.   “I am incredibly honored and excited to return to my alma mater as the head women’s basketball coach. NAU is a special place that shaped me as both a player and a person, and I take great pride in leading this program into its next chapter,” said Dinkins. “I want to thank President Cruz Rivera, Uri Farkas, and the search committee for entrusting me with this incredible opportunity. My goal is to build on the foundation of success, develop our student-athletes both on and off the court, and compete at the next highest level. I can’t wait to get to work with this team and reconnect with the Lumberjack community. Let’s make history together!”   In 2024-25, GCU earned the most single-season wins in program history with 32, winning the program’s first-ever Western Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship en route to the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth in Division I history. The 2023-24 season saw the Lopes rank 18th nationally in scoring defense and ranked 36th nationally in steals per game (10.2).   "I am delighted to welcome Coach Dinkins back to NAU. As a former Lumberjack basketball standout and assistant coach, her dedication to our university and our student-athletes is unmatched,” added Northern Arizona University President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera. “Her proven leadership, commitment to excellence, and deep alignment with NAU’s values set her apart, and I look forward to her leadership of our women's basketball program."   Prior to joining GCU, she spent six seasons (2017-23) at Long Beach State as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. There, Long Beach State increased its overall win percentage each season, including three consecutive winning seasons from 2020-23 where the program went 54-28 overall and 40-16 in conference play, which was a Big West Conference record during that span, along with two WNIT berths.   From 2014-17, she was the assistant coach at Fresno State under head coach Jaime White. Dinkins and the Bulldogs found plenty of success, helping lead Fresno State to a 63-37 (.630) overall record including a 36-18 (.667) mark in Mountain West Conference play. The Bulldogs saw three consecutive winning seasons, two of which had 22 or more wins, plus two WNIT berths.   No stranger to the Big Sky, Dinkins got her coaching start at Northern Arizona as an assistant coach under Kelly from 2010-12 after a professional playing career. From there, she moved onto Idaho State where she was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons.   Dinkins was a member of the NAU women’s basketball team from 2003-08, helping the Lumberjacks win their lone Big Sky tournament championship in 2005-06 and advance to the NCAA tournament where she scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in 20 minutes of action.   The 2007-08 season for Dinkins is still one of the best in program history for an individual, as she ranks in the top ten in seven statistical single-season categories. That season, Dinkins led the team in scoring (15.9), field goal percentage (.431), field goals made (179), rebounds (252), steals (48), and minutes (1,144). Her 252 rebounds still rank seventh in a single-season, and her minutes rank second.   She was a five-time All-Big Sky Academic Team member and was named to the All-Big Sky second team in 2008. During her time, the Lumberjacks posted an overall record of 83-69 (.546) and she still ranks seventh all-time in career rebounds (714) and eighth in games played (120). When she graduated, her 714 rebounds ranked second all-time. After her time at NAU, she went on to play professionally in the Netherlands and in Germany where she led both of her professional teams in scoring and was named a team captain. In 2009, she helped the Chem Cats (Germany) win the Division II Championship.   A native of Rialto, Calif., Dinkins earned her bachelor’s degree in education from NAU in 2008.    

Bryan Camacho brings over 20 years of coaching experience to Northern Arizona University, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Grand Canyon University women’s basketball program. In 2024-25, Camacho helped guide the Lopes to a historic season. The Lopes won the program’s first Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, finishing 32-3 overall and 16-0 in conference play, and earning their first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance in school history.   Camacho’s coaching résumé spans every level of basketball, from high school to Division I, and includes experience on both the men’s and women’s sides. Before joining GCU, he spent a season as the head coach at Central Arizona College. Prior to that, he served six seasons at Long Beach State University, where he helped lead the Beach to three Big West quarterfinal appearances, one semifinal appearance, and back-to-back WNIT berths in 2021-22 and 2022-23.   During his time at Long Beach State, Camacho coached several standout players, including Big West Player of the Year Tori Harris and Big West Defensive Players of the Year Maddi Utti and Kristyna Jeskeova.   Camacho began building his coaching legacy at the high school level. As head girls’ basketball coach at Bishop Alemany High School, he compiled a 165-44 record and led the program to a California state championship. He also coached Bellarmine-Jefferson High School to a state title, where he posted a 185-51 record.   His other coaching stops include stints at CSUN (women’s basketball), University of Great Falls (men’s basketball), and Chaminade College Preparatory (West Hills, Calif.). As a player, Camacho was a team captain at College of the Canyons, where he led his team to a Western State Conference title and earned all-conference honors.   He holds an associate’s degree from College of the Canyons and a bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA.  

Dajae Black joins Northern Arizona University following two seasons at Truman State University, where she served as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. During her tenure, Black played a pivotal role in helping the Bulldogs double their win total and secure a berth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament.   As Recruiting Coordinator, she was instrumental in identifying and signing high-level student-athletes who aligned with the program’s competitive and academic standards. She also contributed extensively to the daily operations of the program, including opponent scouting, film breakdown, fundraising initiatives, youth and elite camps, and community engagement efforts.   Prior to joining the Truman State staff, Black served as an Assistant Coach at the University of Akron during the 2022–23 season. During her time with the Zips, she contributed to a successful campaign in which Akron posted a 17–13 overall record, including a strong showing in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.   Black also spent two seasons with the Grand Canyon University Women’s Basketball Program, where she quickly rose through the ranks. She began as a graduate assistant during the 2020–21 season and was promoted to Director of Basketball Operations the following year. She was part of a historic stretch for the program, as the Lopes advanced to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship Game for the first time in their Division I history in 2020–21 and returned to the title game the following season. Over those two years, Grand Canyon compiled a standout 40–17 record.   A native of Chicago, Ill., Black had a successful collegiate playing career at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. She appeared in 97 games and played a key role in leading the Flyers to a 93–34 record during her time with the program. Her playing career was defined by team success and a strong winning culture, laying the foundation for her transition into coaching.  

Nicholas Milan joins the Northern Arizona University women’s basketball staff after spending eight seasons at Cal State Fullerton, where he steadily rose through the ranks. He was promoted to Assistant Coach in 2020–21 and later named Recruiting Coordinator in 2022–23, after originally starting as Director of Basketball Operations.   During his time at CSUF, Milan played a key role in all facets of the program, including recruiting, game preparation, player development, and program administration. He has built strong recruiting ties across the West Coast. His player development work focused on forwards and post players, notably mentoring Eva Levingston to Big West All-Freshman Team honors. In his third season, CSUF posted a 17–14 record — the program’s first winning season since 1990–91.   A native of Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Milan graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. While completing his degree, he assisted with the boys' basketball program at Yorba Linda High School.   Following graduation, he returned to Hawai‘i and earned a Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, where he served as graduate manager for the Rainbow Warrior basketball program. He was responsible for handling administrative duties, compiling scouting reports, and coordinating player workouts.   Milan also played two seasons at Orange Coast College, where he contributed to the program’s first playoff win in 20 years—an experience that helped lay the foundation for his career in collegiate athletics.  

Kristyna Jeskeova joins Northern Arizona University after a decorated collegiate playing career at the NCAA Division I level. Jeskeova most recently spent two seasons with Grand Canyon University Women's Basketball, helping the Lopes capture the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament Championship in 2024-25 and subsequent NCAA Tournament berth. She appeared in 20 games after returning from a two-year knee injury, averaging 3.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks per contest while shooting 57% from the field. A top rebounder for GCU, she grabbed 39 offensive boards and 70 rebounds in conference play, adding 14 postseason rebounds, including a strong performance against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament First Round. Before GCU, Jeskeova had an impactful four-year career with Long Beach State Women's Basketball, where she emerged as one of the premier defenders in the Big West Conference. In 2022–23, she was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year, Hustle Player of the Year, and earned All-Defensive Team honors. She averaged 6.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 47.9% from the field and 30.8% from three. Jeskeova led the Beach in total rebounds (153), ranked among conference leaders in steals (63), and posted multiple double-doubles, including a 21-point game against Southern Miss and a 15-rebound game vs. Dartmouth. Over her LBSU career, Jeskeova totaled 375 rebounds, 154 steals, and 36 blocks in 90 appearances. A native of the Czech Republic, Jeskeova came to the United States in 2019 to pursue her collegiate basketball career. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Long Beach (2023), followed by an Master in Business Administartion (2024) and Master of Sience in Business Analytics (2025) from Grand Canyon University. She has played under Laura Dinkins and Bryan Camacho for the past six years, establishing herself as a versatile forward known for her relentless defense, rebounding, and leadership on and off the floor.