The Bruins secured the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for the first time a decade ago. They then went on to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament this year, once again making history.

The woman behind the scenes of both program firsts? Shannon LeBeauf.

After 14 years with UCLA women’s basketball, associate head coach Shannon LeBeauf departed the program to take the same role at Rutgers. LeBeauf will join the Scarlet Knights staff for the 2025-2026 season alongside her husband and newly hired defensive coordinator, Sean LeBeauf.

“I am struggling to put into words how much Shannon has meant to me personally and to this program,” said head coach Cori Close to UCLA Athletics. “She has served out her calling in the most professional, selfless and impactful way. Tears well up in my eyes as I think about this transition, but I am in complete support of this next step for her and Sean.”

LeBeauf played basketball at Iowa from 1995 to 1998, where she earned a Big Ten tournament title, a Sweet 16 appearance and two regular season conference titles.

After graduating, LeBeauf took an assistant coaching position at Iowa for the 1999-2000 season. She then completed four- and five-season stints at USC and Duke, respectively, before finding a long-term home at UCLA.

The southern California local spent her entire UCLA tenure with Close, who hired LeBeauf in 2011 before promoting her to associate head coach ahead of the 2019-2020 season.

“UCLA has been home for 14 years, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built together,” LeBeauf said to UCLA Athletics. “I’ve grown here, not just as a coach, but as a person. I’m deeply grateful to Coach Cori, who’s been an incredible leader and a true friend. I’ve worked with amazing people and coached remarkable young women who have left a lasting mark on my heart.”

While the 2014-2015 rookie batch was the first No. 1 recruiting class in Bruin history, it wasn’t the last. LeBeauf, who acted as the recruiting coordinator during her time at UCLA, once again brought in the nation’s top group of new talent during the 2021-2022 season. The class included rising senior guards Gabriela Jaquez and Kiki Rice.

LeBeauf recorded 321 wins with the Bruins and helped lead them to nine NCAA tournament berths, including their first Final Four appearance in the NCAA era last year. Yet, her departure from UCLA is about more than just her accolades.

“Coach Shannon, you’ve been so much more than a coach to me,” said rising senior center Lauren Betts in an Instagram post. “You’ve been my second mom, loving me unconditionally, guiding me through my lowest moments and believing in me even when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

While the Bruins’ 2025-2026 schedule has not been released yet, UCLA is guaranteed to face off against LeBeauf and Rutgers at least once during Big Ten conference play next season.

The Bruins have not announced who, if anyone, will replace LeBeauf as associate head coach.