New Era For PCC Women's Basketball As Kendyl Rizea Chosen As Head Coach

Kendyl Rizea, who directed Chaffey College the past four seasons, has been selected as the new head coach of the Pasadena City College women's basketball program beginning with the 2026-27 season.

Rizea turned around the Chaffey Panther program from 2022 through the '25-26 season as she put together a winning 57-55 record, including a 35-23 mark for a .603 winning percentage in her last two seasons.

This past season, she directed Chaffey to its first Southern California Regional Playoffs appearance in 10 years, first playoff victory in 12 years while the Panthers also earned a home seed. Chaffey was eliminated in the Second Round by Irvine Valley, a team that went to advance to the 3C2A State Tournament quarterfinals.

"We are excited to have Kendyl Rizea leading Pasadena City College women's basketball for the 2026–27 season. Her coaching expertise, commitment to holistic student development, and dedication to academic achievement make her an outstanding leader for our program," said PCC Kinesiology, Health & Athletics Dean/Interim Athletic Director Dr. Timi Brown, "Coach Rizea has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting student-athletes both on and off the court, with an emphasis on successful graduation and transfer outcomes that align with PCC's mission of academic and athletic excellence."

Rizea was previously head coach at College of the Desert from 2019-2022 after first serving as an assistant for the Roadrunners in 2018-19. She also served as a graduate assistant coach at NAIA Peru State College (Nebraska) for two seasons and an assistant at her playing alma mater--Graceland University (Iowa). 

A native of Windsor, Ontario in Canada, Rizea was a head girls basketball coach at the International Children's Games for Windsor Essex, directing her undefeated squad to the championship title. She also served on the Ontario Junior Development Team coaching staff as well as an assistant at Vincent Massey Secondary School.

She played both basketball and track and field at Graceland, graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education/coaching. She earned a master's of science in sports management at Wayne State College (Nebraska). 

In 2013-14, Rizea continued her playing career at St. Clair College, a winner of the OCAA Provincial bronze medal. She was named St. Clair's Female Athlete of the Year in 2014. She was both an OCAA First Team All-Star and CCAA Academic All-Canadian in consecutive seasons. She also was a finalist as Windsor Essex Sports Person of the Year for women's basketball.

She sent seven players to the university level on scholarships in her first three Chaffey seasons. In 2026, she coached IEAC First Team guard-forward Danielle Singley. 

Rizea is married to husband Clayton and the couple has two children in son Ellis and daughter Lennon.