Westmont College Athletics

Beginning in the 2010 season, Mark Basham coached the Westmont Men’s Tennis team for 14 years, leading the Warriors to nine NAIA National Championship appearances.

In 2023, his final season at the helm, Basham took the Warriors to their first GSAC Championship match in five years, in the team's final year the conference. For his efforts, Basham was named GSAC Coach of the Year.

In 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Basham guided the Warriors back to the GSAC Tournament where they won in the quarterfinals, reaching the tournament semis once again.

Westmont reached the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament during the 2013 season to produce its best finish since 1997. The team went 13-11 on the year.

In 2011, Basham was named the Golden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to a second place finish in the conference standings. Westmont won its final seven regular season conference games.

In 2017, the Warriors won their first Golden State Athletic Conference championship in 20 years by defeating top-seated Arizona Christian 5-4. Basham was rewarded with the GSAC Coach of the Year award.

In 2019, Basham received the GSAC Coach of the Year award for the third time.

"I’m very excited about the formidable experience and many gifts that Mark brings to our tennis program," said Westmont athletic director David Odell. "A former ATP tour player, All-American at UCLA and key member of UCLA’s national championship teams, he has competed at the highest levels of both singles and doubles and certainly understands what it takes to become a champion."

Basham, who grew up in Santa Barbara, played tennis as a Santa Barbara High School student under Coach Jack Trigueiro.

"We had very good teams," said Basham of his prep career. "In my freshman year we had four nationally ranked players and reached the CIF finals."

In the fall of 1981, Basham journeyed south to attend UCLA where he played tennis for Glenn Bassett. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of Basham’s four years, claiming the national team championship in his freshman and junior seasons.

"The highlight for me at UCLA was in my junior year when we beat Stanford in the finals 5-4," said Basham. "It came down to the number one doubles match in which I was playing. That was very exciting."

After graduation from UCLA, Basham played on the professional circuit for two and one-half years.

"I like to tell people I got into the dance," said Basham. "I got to play Wimbledon and the US Open and the French Open and a lot of big tournaments in doubles that were in the United States."

Since 1988, Basham has been teaching tennis in Santa Barbara. Basham was the Co-Director of Tennis at the Tennis Club of Santa Barbara from 1996-2009,  the Director of Tennis at the Birnam Wood Golf Club from 1990-1995, and taught at the Knowlwood Tennis Club in 1989 .

"One of my best experiences in teaching tennis was in coaching the USTA Team Zonal Championships," said Basham. "I coached five boys and five girls time who were from the ages of 14-16. I really loved that experience and the opportunity to show patience and compassion during their matches, while also trying to motivate and get them to play better – the best that they could play."

Basham is married to Dr. Sharon Basham, MD, the medical director for the Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital in Santa Barbara.