Head Coach
Gary Stewart
Coach data is provided for recruiting research and should be confirmed with the official athletics website before contact.
Basketball Staff Contacts
Verified 2026-08-15 from this program's own staff page. Staff change during the recruiting cycle, so confirm before sending outreach.
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Gary Stewart | Head Coach | garystewart@ucmerced.edu |
| Moses Oceguera | Assistant Coach | loceguera@ucmerced.edu |
| Ed Madec | Assistant Coach | edwardmadec@ucmerced.edu |
About University of California Merced Basketball
The Golden State Athletic Conference has quietly developed into one of NAIA's most competitive regions, and UC Merced operates within that elevated standard while maintaining genuine accessibility for student-athletes. Head Coach Kevin Pham has built a program that values basketball IQ and positional versatility, two qualities that tend to separate contributors from bench players at the NAIA level. What separates Merced from typical smaller programs is the consistency of their approach. Pham's staff emphasizes ball movement, defensive positioning, and role clarity rather than relying on individual talent to overcome structure. This creates an environment where guards with solid court vision thrive, and forwards who can space the floor find consistent minutes. The program actively recruits players who understand their position within a system, not simply athletes looking for playing time. The Central Valley location means less recruiting hype than coastal California programs, but that's precisely where opportunity lives. UC Merced competes against schools that draw significant attention, which means Pham's roster benefits from depth-level talent that other NAIA programs overlook. Players who've refined their fundamentals and understand spacing principles tend to excel here. If you're serious about competing at this level, the preparation has to match the ambition. Florida Coastal Prep in Fort Walton Beach, FL works with post-grad and high school athletes to build the skills that college coaches recruit. See what's possible at floridacoastalprep.com.
Net price
$11,583/yr
Grad rate
68%
Enrollment
8,372
Full cost & outcomes
College Cost & Enrollment
Federal College Scorecard snapshot (retrieved 2026-11-04). Not a tuition quote.
Average net price: $11,583 / year (in-state)
Net price by family income
- $0–$30,000
- $7,387 / year
- $30,001–$48,000
- $7,141 / year
- $48,001–$75,000
- $10,285 / year
- $75,001–$110,000
- $14,069 / year
- $110,001+
- $30,779 / year
More enrollment & tuition figures
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 8,372
- Average net price
- $11,583 / year (in-state)
- Published tuition (in-state)
- $16,271 / year
- Published tuition (out-of-state)
- $53,873 / year
- Graduation rate
- 68%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Golden State Athletic Conference Teams
| School | Location | Enrollment | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|
San Diego Christian College
View program →
|
Location , CA | Enrollment 87 | Avg. net price $31,898 |
University of Antelope Valley
View program →
|
Location Lancaster, CA | Enrollment — | Avg. net price — |
University of California Merced
View program →
|
Location , CA | Enrollment 8,372 | Avg. net price $11,583 |
Vanguard University
View program →
|
Location , CA | Enrollment 1,933 | Avg. net price $23,231 |
William Jessup University
View program →
|
Location Rocklin, CA | Enrollment 1,294 | Avg. net price $26,418 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of California Merced NAIA?
Yes, University of California Merced is an NAIA program in the Golden State Athletic Conference. This page lists division, conference, coach contacts, and recruiting context for University of California Merced men's basketball.
What conference is University of California Merced in?
University of California Merced competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference for NAIA men's basketball.
What is the average net price at University of California Merced?
Federal College Scorecard data lists an average net price of $11,583 per year for in-state students who received federal aid, after grants and scholarships. This is not a tuition quote.
What is undergraduate enrollment at University of California Merced?
College Scorecard reports approximately 8,372 undergraduate students. Confirm current enrollment on the school's official website.
How do I get recruited to University of California Merced?
Build updated game film, complete NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements for NAIA, and contact the coaching staff using verified emails on this page or the official athletics staff directory. FCP helps players prepare film and recruiting profiles for NAIA programs. See floridacoastalprep.com/apply/ and the how-to-get-recruited guide on this site.
Don't Wait to Start Your Path to University of California Merced
Every month without structured development is a month where other recruits are improving their film, clearing eligibility, and building coach relationships. FCP players don't wait. They arrive at NAIA evaluations already prepared for what programs like University of California Merced require.
Coaching contacts compiled by the FCP recruiting staff. Cost and graduation figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-11-04.