Laura Dinkins - Women's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Laura Dinkins

Title:
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
Laura.Dinkins@gcu.edu
Alma Mater:
Northern Arizona (2008)
Year at GCU:
2nd season

Entering her 15th season of coaching at the division I level, Laura Dinkins was named Associate Head Coach /recruiting coordinator in April of 2024 and enters her second season with the Lopes ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Known as a defensive specialist as both a player and a coach, Dinkins aided to Molly Miller's known lockdown defensive pressure system as the Lopes totaled 325 steals in 2023-24 and ranked 36th in the nation in steals per game (10.2). Four players tallied 40+ steals on the season, including a team-high from Trinity San Antonio, who ranked fourth in the WAC in both total steals (63) and steals per game (2.3). Both San Antonio and Tiarra Brown were honored on the All-WAC Defensive Team.

Dinkins spent the past six seasons as assistant coach at Long Beach State, which went 23-10 last season with a WNIT berth. Dinkins helped lead the Beach to six straight Big West conference tournaments and multiple Big West accolades, including Big West Player of the Year (Tori Harris), two All-Big West Defensive Players of the Year (Maddi Utti) and (Kristyna Jeskeova), Big West Freshman of the Year and two-time Big West All-Defensive Team (Justina King).

Her other accolades include multiple Big West All-Defensive Team and Big West Defensive Player of the Year honors, fitting right into Miller's high-pressure defensive system that finished fourth in the nation in steals per game and eighth in turnovers forced per contest.

Dinkins also spent time at Fresno State, serving as assistant coach for three seasons in which she helped lead the Bulldogs to the second round of the WNIT in each of her first two seasons. Prior to Fresno State, she served on the staff at Idaho State and coached four All-Big Sky honorees.

Dinkins' start in coaching came at her alma mater, Northern Arizona. While a student-athlete in Flagstaff, Dinkins was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and ranks second in Lumberjack history with 714 career rebounds. She played a program-best 1,144 minutes during the 2007-08 season and was a member of the 2005-06 team that won Northern Arizona's first Big Sky championship and NCAA tournament berth.

Dinkins graduated from Northern Arizona with a bachelor's degree in health sciences in 2008 and went on to play professionally for two seasons in Europe, including a Division II championship for the Chem Cats in Germany.