BERKELEY – The California women's basketball program has hired Travon Bryant as an assistant coach, head coach Charmin Smith announced Thursday. Bryant comes to the Golden Bears with over eight years of coaching experience at the NBA and G-League level and has personally worked with perennial NBA All-Stars such as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. At Cal, he will be responsible for post-player development, defensive game planning and recruiting efforts.
 
"Travon is an excellent addition to our coaching staff and will do a great job connecting with our players," Smith said. "He's a high-character individual who has shown an outstanding track record of building relationships and developing players at the highest level. His extensive network in the recruiting space will be an immediate asset to the program."
 
Bryant comes to Cal after having recently served as an assistant coach with the Raptors 905 during the 2021-22 season, where he was responsible for leading the development of the team's defensive scheme. His efforts resulted in the team earning the G-League's top defensive rating that year. Before that, he spent the 2020-21 season with the Detroit Pistons, where he led player development for the team's front-court players and helped then-rookie Isaiah Stewart earn an NBA Second-Team All-Rookie recognition.
 
Prior to the Pistons, Bryant served as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets from 2017-20, focusing on the team's offseason training program, front-court player development, advanced scouting and helping with players returning from injury. He also spent time as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-17, where his duties included player development, game and practice video analysis and playoff scouting.
 
Bryant was also one of three NBA coaches invited to be a USA Jr. National Basketball training camp coach in 2019 where he worked with players such as Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren and Jarace Walker. He has also spent the last seven years consulting with various AAU teams on the West Coast.
 
"Women's basketball is important to me as I currently have a daughter playing in AAU, so it means a lot to be involved in a high-caliber women's program like Cal," Bryant said. "I see the momentum this team has been on in the last few years which is exciting. It's also great to be a part of the number one public institution in the country."
 
Bryant was a four-year letter winner at the University of Missouri (2000-04), where he started 81 games for the Tigers and was part of three NCAA Tournament runs - including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2002.
 
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