Men's Basketball Promotes Spenser Nunes To Interim Head Coach

Spenser Nunes, an assistant coach the past three seasons, was promoted to interim head coach of the Pasadena CIty College men's basketball team for the 2025-26 season.

Working under former head coach Ryan Frazer, Nunes helped guide the Lancers to a successful 59-32 record (.648 win percentage) with three straight trips to the Southern California Regional Playoffs from 2003-2025. PCC won Round 1 playoff games in each of the three seasons, reaching the regional finals (Round 3) in 2002-2023.

Since Nunes has been a member of the coaching staff, PCC produced six All-South Coast Conference First Team selections, including the program's first All-State Team choice in 11 years--Dylan Swillis. The program sent all four of its sophomores on playing scholarships to 4-year universities. 

Prior to PCC, Nunes served as an assistant coach at NAIA Dickinson State University in North Dakota (2014-2015), including the role of recruiting coordinator. He was an associate head coach at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (Oklahoma) from 2012-2014.

Nunes also coached at the prep level as boys basketball head coach at Paloma Valley High (Menifee) in 2021-2022 and started his coaching career at HC at Waverly-South Shore High (South Dakota) in 2010-2012.

As a student-athlete, Nunes played as a 2-year starter and team captain at Calvary Chapel High in Downey where he became an all-league player, 500-point scorer, and participated on a CIF finalist team in 2006. He went on to attend South Dakota State University, earning his bachelor's degree, then master's in sports administation in 2010.

Nunes replaces Frazer, who decided to take an assistant coaching position at the University of Montana earlier this month.

"I'm incredibly grateful to Coach Frazer for the opportunity to be part of such a special program and for the foundation he built here," Nunes said. "His leadership and success the past three seasons have set a high standard that we're committed to upholding and I'm honored to carry it forward."

Nunes said that Harrison Haynes, who also has been a member of the staff the past three seasons, will continue as an assistant coach. 

"Having Coach Haynes stay on the staff is invaluable. His experience, connection with our players, and commitment to the PCC culture will be key as we move ahad. He brings a sense of continuity, and with several key players returning, we're excited to keep building on the momentum we've created together. Our focus is on continuing to grow, compete, and represent the program with pride."

Nunes becomes just the 17th head coach of the program in a sport that started a century ago at then Pasadena Junior College in 1924-25.

The Lancers captured state championships in 1928, 1939 with Jackie Robinson on the squad, 1945, then capturing the 1967 crown under legendary Naismith Hall of Fame coach Jerry Tarkanian. PCC won the state title again in 1969 under Dan Ayala. The program's most famous player is Lakers defensive great and 5-time NBA champion Michael Cooper (1974-75 alumnus), another Naismith Hall of Famer.