University of Nevada - Reno Women's Basketball

University of Nevada alumnus Kelly Sopak, founder of one of the nation’s top amateur and grassroots girls basketball programs in Cal Stars Basketball Club and renowned multiple-time championship head coach in the California basketball high school ranks, was named Nevada’s Women’s Basketball head coach on March 24, 2026. Since founding Cal Stars in 2006 then taking over as head coach at Miramonte High School in 2008, Sopak has coached and developed talent which have gone on to make massive impacts at both the collegiate and professional levels of women’s basketball. Sopak was also named to Silver Wave Media’s 2025 “100 Most Impactful People in Women’s Basketball.” Nine of his former players have been drafted by WNBA, with 25 USA Basketball alumni, 18 McDonald’s All-Americans and 17 Gatorade Players of the Year. Chief among that group is current New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who played both club and prep ball for Sopak before going on to a decorated collegiate career at Oregon, becoming the top pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft, and winning an Olympic Gold Medal with Team USA in 2024. Serving as head coach at Carondelet High School in Concord, California, since 2020, Sopak led the Cougars to the 2025 CIF Division I state title and was named Cal-Hi Sports 2024-25 State Coach of the Year for girls’ basketball. Over six seasons at Carondelet, Sopak led the Cougars to the 2025 state title, three North Coast Section (NCS) titles, and three NorCal Championship Game appearances with one title while going 143-31. In January 2025, he joined a select group of California girls basketball head coaches when he won his 500th-career game, and boasts a career record of 541-97. While head coach at Miramonte from 2008-20, Sopak guided the Matadors to a CIF Open Division NorCal title, five NCS championships and seven league titles while going 304-46. With Ionescu leading the way on the court from 2013-16, Miramonte went 119-9 and captured the 2016 CIF Open Division NorCal title and reached the state title game. Overseeing the nationally renowned Cal Stars program, Sopak has coached the program to the 2015 Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) title while guiding over 400 athletes to college basketball opportunities. As head coach of Cal Stars’ 17U squad, Sopak has led the club to three national titles, one national runner-up finish, and two additional Final Four appearances while winning over 1,000 games. He also has coaching experience at the USA Basketball level, being selected as the court coach for the 2015 U16 National Team Trials. Sopak embarked on his prep girl’s basketball coaching career in 2003 as an assistant under Mark Bucklew at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. Following Bucklew’s retirement in 2005, Sopak took over as head coach and went on to a 94-20 record with three league titles and two section title-game appearances over four seasons before taking the Miramonte head job. Sopak is a 1995 graduate of the University, earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He and his wife, Beverly, also a University of Nevada graduate, have two daughters, Lauren and Leah. Lauren currently serves as Vice President of Event Operations for Nike Tournament of Champions, while Leah holds a graduate assistant role with TCU women’s basketball which is currently 31-5 overall and in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Najé Murray enters her first season as assistant coach and Director of Recruiting in 2026. Murray comes to Nevada from UC Riverside where she was an assistant coach for two seasons. In the 2025-2026 season under Brad Langston, she helped guide the Highlanders to a Big West Tournament quarterfinal appearance. She also mentored and developed guard Hannah Wickstrom to All-Big West honors. During the 2024-2025 season, Murray helped guide the Highlanders to 18 wins and the 700th overall win in program history. UC Riverside made a quarterfinal appearance and won seven of eight to finish conference play that season. Before UC Riverside, Murray was at San Diego State where she was an assistant coach focusing on on-court player development, scouting and recruiting. She helped guide the Aztecs to a 23-11 record and their first appearance in the Mountain West Championship Game since 2013. Along the way, she had two players selected to the All-Mountain West First Team.  Murray began her playing career for the Aztecs and set the single season record for most 3-pointers (81) and was named to the All-Mountain West Freshman Team. Murray moved on to Texas Tech and while playing for the Red Raiders set a single game record with eight threes.  After graduating from Texas Tech, Murray attended Syracuse to earn her masters and finish her playing career. While competing for the Orange, she was named team captain, started every game and scored her 1,000th-career point in December 2021. Additionally, Murray was named to the All-ACC Academic Team and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. She played professionally overseas in Luxembourg for Amicale Steesel in the LBBL League where she averaged 14 points per game. Murray attended Saint Mary's High School in Stockton, Calif., where she was the 30th ranked guard in the state and was a 1,000 point scorer. She started all four years for the Rams and won the CIF Open Division state championship during her tenure. Named team captain her senior year, Murray was also selected to three Cal-Hi Sports Teams during her high school career. Her younger brother, Nick, played football at the University of San Diego. 

Lavaris Duncan begins his fourth season with Nevada women's basketball in 2026-27. Duncan came to Reno from TCU, where he served as a graduate assistant before joining the Pack ahead of the 2023-24 season.  During his time at TCU, Duncan handled a variety of tasks that helped the Horned Frogs women’s basketball program. His duties included film breakdown, scouting, working as a scout player, practice preparation and equipment maintenance. He was also instrumental on the creative side, coming up with graphic designs and creative content for social media and flyers.  Duncan was an All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference player at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, competing from 2017-20 before transferring to Angelo State for his final season. Academically, Duncan was a member of the Dean’s List and earned the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Leadership award at Angelo State.  He received his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Angelo State in 2021 and his master’s degree from TCU in higher education and leadership in 2023.

Shea Mead enters his 12th season as the director of basketball operations for the Wolf Pack women’s basketball program in 2026-27. Mead handles all day-to-day operations of the program, including team travel, coordinating practice and game schedules, community service, equipment, and summer camps. In the two of the last three years, he has led three panel discussions at the WBCA Convention in conjunction with the Final Four. Mead is also a member of the operations committee within the WBCA, which schedules the panel discussions at the WBCA convention. Before coming to Reno, Mead spent two years as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball program at Division II Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich. During his time with the Bulldogs, he administered many of the same duties that he is responsible for at Nevada, such as team travel, practice schedules, summer camps, etc. Also he helped develop Ferris State’s first three-time All-GLIAC first team honoree and All-American, Sarah DeShone. Prior to his appointment at Ferris State, Mead spent two years as the graduate assistant for women’s basketball at Central Michigan after serving time as a practice player for the Chippewas under head coach Sue Guevara. While with the Chippewas, he earned a master’s degree in sport administration in 2013. Mead also earned his bachelor’s degree in sports studies from Central Michigan in 2011. During his undergraduate time at CMU, the Grand Rapids, Mich. Native coached seventh and eighth grade boys and girls basketball at Beal City Public Schools. Additionally, he served as an intern with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever in the summer of 2011.