Carmen Dolfo enters her 35th season as Head Coach of the Western Washington University Women’s Basketball program in 2025-26, marking over 41 years at WWU as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator. Under her leadership, the Vikings have achieved historic success, including 19 NCAA Division II West Regional appearances and three trips to the NCAA Elite Eight. Dolfo recorded her 700th career victory on January 11, 2025, placing her among the top active and all-time coaches in NCAA history. Her recent tenure has been marked by a 119-37 record over six seasons, multiple GNAC regular-season and tournament championships, and the 2022 West Regional Championship, which advanced the Vikings to the national championship game.
Dolfo’s career record stands at 709-273 (.722), making her the winningest coach in WWU history. She has guided 17 All-Americans and 74 conference all-stars, cementing her legacy as a leader in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Prior to becoming head coach in 1990, Dolfo was a standout player at WWU, earning NAIA All-America honors and later serving as an assistant coach. She has served on the WBCA Board of Directors and contributed to national committees including the Kodak All-American Selection and regional rating committees. A native of Penticton, British Columbia, Dolfo holds a bachelor’s degree from WWU (1986) and a master’s in student personnel administration (1996). She and her husband, John Garrison, have three children: Kennedy, Aspen, and John Grey.