"Jeff is a Warrior tried and true. The stability he brings to our program has been key to our success," said Head Coach John Moore. "I don’t think there are a lot of programs where if the head coach had to step away, there wouldn’t be a drop-off at all. And I think that in our case that would certainly be the circumstance. I have an incredible amount of faith in Jeff and the players have great confidence in him."
Jeff Azain has been associated with Westmont basketball since 1983, the year he started his playing career for the Warriors. The 2020-21 season marked his 30th year on the Warrior coaching staff.
As an assistant coach, Azain's teams have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament 14 times, including finishing as National Runner-Up in 2015 and making a national semifinal appearance in 1999. In 2019-20, the Warriors earned their highest ever seed in the National Tournament under the current format, the #2 seed in the Liston Bracket, before the tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Under Azain, the Warriors have made a program record six straight appearances at Nationals, beginning in the 2014-2015 season. Azain has also coached Westmont to four Golden State Athletic Conference regular season titles, including in 2020-21, and an additional three GSAC Tournament championships.
During his tenure as assistant coach, Azain has coached 49 All-GSAC selections, including two who were named GSAC Player of the Year, and 23 players who have received All-American honors.
Azain transferred from Cal State Northridge to Westmont in 1983, and proceeded to play on two Warrior teams that advanced to the NAIA national tournament, including the national semifinal team of 1984. He set Westmont’s all-time record for season field goal percentage in the 1984-85 season, shooting .676 from the field. He was a captain on the 1985-86 squad and was named the recipient of the Tom Byron Most Inspirational Player Award.
In high school, Azain earned All-CIF honors at nearby San Marcos High School, and played on a team which advanced to the 1981 CIF championship game. He is a member of the San Marcos Athletic Hall of Fame.
In May 2009, Azain was inducted into the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Santa Barbara Basketball Court of Champions in June 2016.
Besides his coaching duties, Azain serves as the Associate Director of Warrior Sports Associates. As such, he coordinates fundraising activities, as well as the annual Golden Eagle awards which honors Westmont’s top student-athletes each year.
Azain and his wife, Sandy, live in Santa Barbara and have two daughters, Allison and Erin.
