Tonya Cardoza

Biography

A core member of the coaching staff that began the UConn dynasty, Tonya Cardoza enters her 17th season in Storrs in 2025-26. Cardoza is in her second stint on the UConn coaching staff and primarily works with the Huskies' guards. Her return has had an immediate impact as UConn won the 2025 NCAA Championship, her sixth as a member of the coaching staff, as well as four BIG EAST Conference championships. Cardoza was an assistant coach for the Huskies from 1994-2008. In her first 14 seasons on the bench at UConn, the Huskies won five national titles. Cardoza also helped UConn to eight Final Fours, nine Elite Eights and 18 BIG EAST titles as she served a paramount role in building UConn into a powerhouse in women's basketball. Cardoza returned to UConn ahead of the 2023-24 season. In her time at UConn, Cardoza has helped develop guards into All-Americans and National Players of the Year, including Jennifer Rizzotti, Shea Ralph, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Renee Montgomery and Paige Bueckers. Cardoza served as the Temple women's basketball head coach from 2008-22. In her 14 seasons in Philadelphia, Cardoza's team competed in postseason tournaments seven times, including four NCAA Tournament appearances. She finished her time as Temple's winningest head coach with a record of 251-188. Cardoza played collegiately at Virginia, graduating with a degree in anthropology in 1991. She helped lead the Cavaliers to three ACC regular season titles and the 1991 NCAA championship game.