Cuesta's new Women's Basketball Coach Casey Blair began his tenure at the College of San Mateo last Friday.  The Cougars jumped out to a 17-12 lead in the first quarter, but the host Bulldogs used their superior depth to wear down Cuesta's nine-woman squad and outscored them in each of the last three periods on their way to victory, 59-44.  Returning Freshman Julia Carney (SLO HS) led the Cougars on offense.  She netted a team-high 11 points and tied Point Guard Janiel Stanko (Paso Robles HS) with team-high three assists.  The Cougars also received some quality work in the paint from Freshman Forward Hailie Abel (San Miguel: Paso Robles HS), who was a basket short of double-double when she fouled out with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds. 

The Cougars are 0-1 on the season and travel to Taft this Tuesday (5 PM) for their second shot at a win for Coach Blair. 

Coach Blair is the third women's basketball coach in Cuesta History, while his father, Men's Coach Rusty Blair, is the third coach for the men's team, however he began his tenure in 1992-93.  All three of the men's coaches lost their career games to open their careers.  On the women's side, Coach Ed Musolff officially won the women's program-opener against a Lemoore Naval Air Station team, 81-18, on November 26, 1980, but they also lost their first CCCAA contest to Fresno City, 58-38, three days later.  Coach Ron Barba also won his first game in charge of the women's team.  The Cougars beat Bakersfield in a barnburner, 69-68, on November 12, 2010, but then promptly went on a six-game losing streak.  Only Coach Musolff ended his first season with a winning record and a playoff berth.

Cuesta Basketball Coaches Debut Seasons

Don Hansen (MBB) 1965-66,  1-26

Ed Musolff (WBB) 1980-81, 16-8 (Playoffs)

Mike Mohler (MBB) 1991-92, 7-22

Rusty Blair (MBB) 1992-93, 6-23 

Ron Barba (WBB) 2010-11, 5-20

Casey Blair (WBB) 2021-22, 0-1