COSTA MESA -- Vanguard Athletics extends a huge thank you and congratulations to Sierra Vaglica, who leaves VU as an assistant coach for women's basketball to become the next head coach at Westcliff University.  Vaglica assumes her first head coaching role after spending the past six seasons as an assistant to Russ Davis, whom she played for over the 2016-2020 school years. 
 
"I want to congratulate Sierra for being named Head Coach at Westcliff, and I also want to thank her for her last 10 years with our program.  She has been a student-athlete and an assistant coach, and she will definitely be missed by everyone here," said Coach Davis.  "Her work ethic and love for Vanguard, especially this program, were evident all the time.  Although I'm sad she is leaving, I'm more happy for her, as this is something we have been talking about and she is definitely ready for the opportunity that's in front of her.  She will always be part of our family, as well as mine.  Thank you for all you have done for all of us.  God bless you."
 
Coach Vaglica helped the Lions to winning records each season as an assistant coach, losing less than 10 games in all but one season.  VU eclipsed 20 wins in three of those years, with the past 2025-26 slate being the program's best during her time coaching time at VU, as the squad went 25-6 overall and 19-4 in league play, taking both the Pacific West Conference regular season and tournament championships, a first in either category for any sport at Vanguard.  With the double triumph, the Blue and Gold qualified for the school's first NCAA Division II National Championship, going 1-1 in the West Region.  While at Vanguard as a coach, Vaglica was on the bench for two conference regular-season championships, four national championship appearances, an overall record of 106-44, and a conference record of 71-28 arching over the programs time in both the NAIA and DII.  She was named the 2024 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the NAIA at the end of the year, the final time VU played at an NAIA National Tournament.  She coached 14 All-Conference players across both the Golden State Athletic Conference and the PacWest, including seven major award winners, and had a hand in helping five student-athletes become NAIA All-Americans.  Her charges were never slouches in the classroom, as Coach Vaglica had over 25 student-athletes receive academic recognition across the GSAC/NAIA and the PacWest/DII.

An accomplished shooting guard as a player, Vaglica competed for the Lions for four seasons and was a starter her final two campaigns. She helped VU reach the NAIA Semifinals in 2016 and connected at a 39.6 percent clip from three-point territory for her career.  Her name is in the VU record book for her shooting performance overall, as well as for setting the single-game school record for three-pointers made with 12 against Northern Alberta Institute of Technology on December 17, 2019. In her four seasons at VU, the program posted a 99-26 record, including a 30-4 mark in 2016-17.  After graduating from VU, she received her Master's Degree in Coaching and Administration from CUI in 2021 and then got experience as part fo the VU Athletic Department administration team during the 2021-22 school year.  She inherits a Westcliff program that struggled with numbers last season, as WC only had enough players to contest games on two occasions and withdrew from their remaining slate.  WC is an NAIA school that is a member of the California Pacific Conference (CalPac).
 
With so many memories and magical moments at a place that has been home for 10 years, it is no surprise that Vaglica had her own thank you to share:

"First, none of this would be possible without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I want to thank God for this opportunity. To my mom, dad, and family. Mom, I just want to say thank you for everything you've done for me to get to this point. Your love, sacrifices, prayers, and support have carried me through every step of this journey. I wouldn't be here without you. I'm so grateful for you, and I hope I can make you proud in this next chapter. I love you always. Dad, I miss you so much and I pray every day that I am making you proud in all that I do. Nick and Dakota, I love you both, and I'm grateful for your support. Russ, THANK YOU for building me up to be ready for this position. You have pushed me beyond what I thought was my limit, but you have made me a better coach and person because of it. I'm grateful for the opportunity you gave me and for the trust you showed me. I learned so much under your leadership, not just about the game, but about what it means to be a coach, a leader, and a professional. I'll always appreciate the guidance and the standards you set, and I'll carry those lessons with me into this next role. You took a chance on me 10 years ago as a player, and I am forever grateful for that opportunity. I respect you beyond words can describe, and you were there for me through all of life's ups and downs. To any players that I have coached, it has been one of my  life's greatest honors to be your coach. To all my former players, I just want to say thank you. I'm proud of the work you put in, the way you competed, and the way you represented yourselves, the women's basketball program, and Vanguard University as a whole. You helped shape me into the coach I am today, and I'll always be grateful for the relationships and memories we built. I'll always be available if you ever need anything!"

"To all my coworkers, thank you for making this experience such a positive one. I appreciate the friendships, the laughs, and the support along the way. You made coming to work enjoyable, and I'm grateful for everything I learned from each of you. I'll always be rooting for you all. Thank you. Lastly, Jeff Bussell, thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of Vanguard University's athletic department. This place has been home to me for the last 10 years. Although this ending is bittersweet, your compassion, guidance, and belief in me means more than words can express. Thank you for everything."

"I am praying for God to continue to bless Vanguard University and the universities future endeavors. There is something about this place that is different and special, and it has been an honor to be a small part of that. Thank you and GO LIONS!"