Women's Basketball

Monterey Peninsula College sixth-year head coach Wendy Bates continues to change the mindset and attitude of the Lobo women's basketball program. She brings a winning attitude and perspective to Monterey Peninsula College.

Wanting to make a difference in the community, the Lobo team and staff are involved in community service projects. The team volunteered with Jacob’s Heart (a non-profit organization working with children and families with cancer) at their annual Kidrageous fundraiser. The coaching staff has volunteered for the past three years offering a free coaching clinic to the local YMCA coaches and have done a variety of free clinics in the Salinas schools for elementary age students.

"We have four goals to achieve in building this program," said Bates. "First, we need to change the mentality of the high school players in our area, and help them realize that this is a valuable place to compete and receive an education. Secondly, we have to think everyday that we are going to compete for the Coast Conference South Championship and play in the Regional State Playoffs. Third, we are going to graduate from MPC and excel in the classroom. Finally, we need to make a difference in the community and let people know who we are."

Bates came to Monterey Peninsula College after spending three seasons as the head coach at Feather River College in Quincy, CA. She took a program that had only six wins her first year and produced double-digit wins and a playoff off appearance for the first time in 12 years. Before Feather River College, Bates was the head coach at Hartnell College for five seasons and led her team to a Coast Conference Championship in 2000-2001 before she left for Quincy.

Prior to being named head coach at Hartnell College, Bates was an assistant at Santa Rosa Junior College under Hall of Fame head coach Caren Franci for a total of three years. She was responsible for all aspects of recruiting potential student-athletes, as well as assisting in scouting opponents, daily practice and individual player development. During her time at Santa Rosa, the team appeared in the Regional State Playoffs all three seasons.

Bates played her college basketball at Santa Rosa Junior College and California State University Chico. She was a two time high school State Champion and was inducted into her High School Hall of Fame in 2008. Bates continues to be honored for her athletic accomplishments as a player and was inducted into the Chico State Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2009.

Coach Bates shares with her athletes and community a sense of pride and accomplishment in the building of the MPC women’s basketball program.  She continues to bring an abundance of dedication, support and integrity to her athletes, as well as the Monterey Peninsula College community as a whole.