THE FORTIER FILE

Personal Information

Name: Lisa Fortier
Birthday: April 5
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
High School: Placer High School
Education: Butte College, Oroville, Calif. - 2002
Cal State Monterey Bay - 2004 (B.S. Human Communications)
Gonzaga University - 2006 (MA Athletic Administration)
Spouse: Craig Fortier
Children: Marcus, Calvin and Quincy

COLLEGIATE HONORS

NAIA Academic All-American, 2003
All-Cal Pac Honorable Mention, 2003
CSUMB Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, 2004
Recently inducted in the Buttle College and CSUMB Hall of Fame in 2022

Coaching Experience

OVERALL

2004-06 - Coordinator Basketball Operations at Gonzaga University
2006-07 - Assistant Women’s Coach University of Northern Colorado
2007-14 - Assistant Women’s Coach at Gonzaga University
April 14, 2014 - Present - Head Women’s Coach at Gonzaga University

GONZAGA

In 12 complete years as the head coach at Gonzaga, Fortier has made 11 postseason appearances (9 NCAA/1 WNIT/1 WBIT), as 2020 is the only year without a postseason appearance due to COVID.
Overall record: 313-84 (.788)
Fortier is the only coach in program history to have 11 20-win seasons in their first 12 seasons, most recently with 24 wins in the 2025-26 season.
In 2024-25, Fortier led the team to 32 wins, which marked the most in program history in a single season.
Claimed nine WCC Regular Season Titles and five WCC Tournament Titles
2023-24 Kathy Delaney Coach of the Year
7x WCC Coach of the Year, most recently in 2024-25
Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year in 2015
Naismith Coach of the Year candidate in 2022-23 and 2023-24
Semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award in 2019-20 and 2023-24
Seven players named the WCC Player of the Year (Lauren Whittaker, Yvonne Ejim x2, Kaylynne Truong, Jenn Wirth, Jill Townsend, Jill Barta)
Under coach Fortier, GU has had:
- The four Sixth Woman of the Year awards in the WCC (Yvonne Ejim, Jaiden Haile, Maud Huijbens and Melody Kempton)
- 26 All-WCC First Team selections
- 7 All-WCC Second Team selections
- 8 All-WCC Honorable Mention selections
- 8 WCC All-Freshman Team performers
- 5 All-Americans
- 7 WCC Player of the Year selections
- 2 WCC Freshman of the Year selections
- An Academic All-American (Yvonne Ejim)
Becky Hammon Player of the Year (Yvonne Ejim)
- 3 WBCA All-American Honorable Mentions (Yvonne Ejim, Maud Huijbens, Allie Turner)
In the 2019-20 season, Fortier led the Bulldogs to their first regular-season Top 10 ranking, reaching No. 10 in the WBCA Coaches Poll and a No. 11 ranking in the Associate Press Poll, their highest AP ranking ever
The Zags reached the Sweet 16 for the second time under coach Fortier in the 2023-24 season. The team finished with a program best of 32 wins on the year, including the highest ranked win in program history against No. 3 Stanford.
GU went undefeated in the conference in 2023-24 at a perfect 16-0. During the season they also won a program record of 24-straight games.
Fortier owns a 313-84 career record. Among active Division I coaches with at least five years at the level, she ranks fifth in winning percentage (.788).
Among active Division I women's basketball head coaches, Fortier and LSU's Kim Mulkey each captured their 300th career Division I win in their 379th career game. Connecticut's Geno Auriemma is the third-fastest active Division I head coach to reach 300 career Division I victories, collecting the milestone win in his 386th career game.

Lisa Fortier was named the Head Coach of the Gonzaga University women's basketball program on April 14, 2014, after having spent nearly a decade on staff, including seven years as an assistant. Entering her 13th season in 2026-27, Fortier has taken the program to new heights and now leads the Bulldogs into their inaugural season in the Pac-12 Conference.

Fortier is the only coach in program history to have 11 20-win seasons in her first 12 seasons, most recently with the 24-10 mark posted in 2025-26. Entering her 13th year at Gonzaga, Fortier has compiled a 313-84 overall record and a .788 winning percentage. She has coached seven WCC Player of the Year selections (Lauren Whittaker, Yvonne Ejim twice, Kaylynne Truong, Jenn Wirth, Jill Townsend and Jill Barta), four WCC Sixth Woman of the Year selections (Jaiden Haile, Melody Kempton, Yvonne Ejim and Maud Huijbens), 26 All-WCC First Team selections, seven All-WCC Second Team selections, eight All-WCC Honorable Mention selections and eight WCC All-Freshman Team performers. She has been named the WCC Coach of the Year seven times and was selected as the Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year in 2015. Fortier has also been a Naismith Coach of the Year candidate in three seasons, including twice being named a semifinalist. Following the success of the 2023-24 season, Fortier was also named the Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year.

Fortier's players have also excelled academically, with 45 players earning WCC All-Academic selections along with 12 players receiving Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Yvonne Ejim became the program's first Academic All-American, earning the distinction in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Ejim was also named the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year in 2023-24. Fortier also coached 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 selection Chandler Smith and the program's first Senior CLASS Award First Team All-American, Jill Townsend.

In 2025-26, Fortier guided the Bulldogs to a 24-10 overall record, including a 14-4 mark in West Coast Conference play. Gonzaga captured its 11th WCC Tournament championship in program history, defeating Oregon State, 76-66, in the title game to secure the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The appearance marked the program's 16th NCAA Tournament berth and ninth under Fortier. The Bulldogs were led by a record-breaking freshman campaign from Lauren Whittaker, who became the first player in program history to earn both WCC Player of the Year and WCC Freshman of the Year honors in the same season. Whittaker averaged 19.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 53.6% from the floor. She finished with 649 points and 348 rebounds, establishing Gonzaga freshman records in both categories while also breaking the program's single-season rebounding record. Jaiden Haile added to the conference accolades, earning WCC Sixth Woman of the Year honors after averaging 7.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Nationally, Gonzaga established itself as one of the premier perimeter shooting teams in the country, finishing the season shooting 39.2% from three-point range. Allie Turner led the Bulldogs with 89 made three-pointers while shooting 47.1% from beyond the arc.

In her 11th season at the helm, Fortier guided the Zags to a 24-11 overall record (17-3 WCC), capturing the West Coast Conference regular-season title. Gonzaga made a deep run in the WBIT, knocking off UTSA and top-seeded Colorado before falling to Minnesota in an overtime quarterfinal thriller. Fifth-year standout Yvonne Ejim anchored the team, becoming Gonzaga's all-time leader in both scoring and rebounds. She surpassed 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds, becoming the first player in WCC women's basketball history to reach both milestones, while averaging nearly 20 points per game. The Zags caught fire in the second half of the season, winning 16 of their final 17 conference games to secure the regular-season crown.

The Bulldogs had one of the toughest nonconference schedules in school history during the 2023-24 season. Gonzaga started the season with a 7-2 record before taking on No. 3 Stanford at home on Dec. 3. Gonzaga came out hot and defeated Stanford, 96-78, for its highest-ranked win in program history at the time. Following the victory, the Zags entered the AP and Coaches Polls at No. 23 and remained in the polls for the rest of the season. The Zags went on to win 24 straight games, a school record, to claim their 19th WCC regular-season championship. GU went undefeated in the West Coast Conference with a 16-0 record and defeated opponents by an average of 30.7 points, which was both a school and WCC record.

Not only were the Bulldogs undefeated in conference play, but they also remained perfect inside the Kennel during the regular season for the second straight year, giving Gonzaga the second-longest active home winning streak in the nation behind eventual national champion South Carolina. During the 24-game winning streak, one performance stood out in conference play. On Feb. 3, the Zags hosted Pacific and made a program-record 19 three-pointers to defeat the Tigers, 104-39. The 65-point victory marked the largest margin of victory over a Division I opponent in school history, as seven Bulldogs contributed to the 19 made three-pointers.

Entering March Madness with a 32-3 record, the Zags were positioned to earn a top-16 seed and hosting rights for the first two rounds. On Selection Sunday, Gonzaga earned a No. 4 seed and the opportunity to host NCAA Tournament games at the McCarthey Athletic Center. In front of a sold-out crowd, Gonzaga defeated UC Irvine, 75-56, in the opening round. The Bulldogs then defeated No. 5 seed Utah, 77-66, in front of another sold-out crowd to advance to the Sweet 16 in Portland, Oregon. It marked the fifth Sweet 16 appearance in program history and Fortier's second as head coach. Gonzaga finished the season with a program-record 32 victories and a 32-4 overall record.

The 2022-23 season was another phenomenal year, with Fortier leading the Zags to their 18th WCC regular-season title and 14th NCAA Tournament appearance. Gonzaga was ranked as high as No. 15 in the AP Poll despite dealing with injuries and illness throughout the season. At one point, the Bulldogs dressed just seven players for multiple games, but still finished with an impressive 28-5 record. Gonzaga earned a signature victory over then-No. 6 Louisville at the Battle 4 Atlantis, which marked the highest-ranked win in program history at the time. The Zags then defeated No. 23 Tennessee two days later to secure third place in the Bahamas. Gonzaga went on to compile a nearly perfect 17-1 conference record to win the regular-season title. Kaylynne Truong was named the WCC Player of the Year and earned AP All-America Honorable Mention honors. Truong and Yvonne Ejim were also finalists for the 2023 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America team. As a team, GU led the country in three-point percentage at 40.5%, which also established a program record.

In 2021-22, Fortier led the Bulldogs to a 27-7 overall record, including a 15-2 conference mark. Gonzaga won its 10th WCC Tournament championship, securing its spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in program history. Fortier and the Bulldogs earned a No. 9 seed and defeated No. 8 Nebraska, 68-55, in the first round. In the next round, GU battled top-seeded Louisville before falling by nine points. Three players earned WCC All-Conference recognition, with Melody Kempton and Kayleigh Truong receiving All-WCC First Team honors and Yvonne Ejim earning WCC Sixth Woman of the Year. It marked the second straight season that a Gonzaga player earned the conference's Sixth Woman of the Year award.

Amid a global pandemic, Fortier guided the Zags to their 17th West Coast Conference regular-season title, ninth WCC Tournament championship and 12th NCAA Tournament appearance. For the first time in program history, GU was ranked in the national polls every week of the 2020-21 season, and the Bulldogs collected numerous individual awards along the way, including AP All-America Honorable Mention honors for both Jill Townsend and Jenn Wirth.

In 2020-21, Fortier led the Bulldogs to a 23-4 overall record, including a 16-1 conference mark, which secured the fifth straight West Coast Conference regular-season title. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Tournament and finished the year ranked No. 20 nationally. Four players earned WCC All-Conference recognition, with Jenn Wirth named Co-WCC Player of the Year and Jill Townsend earning All-WCC First Team honors. Seven players were recognized on the WCC All-Academic team, including Townsend and Wirth.

In 2019-20, Fortier led the Bulldogs to their first regular-season Top 10 ranking, reaching No. 10 in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the Associated Press Poll, their highest AP ranking at the time. Gonzaga put together its best regular-season record at 28-2 and finished the season with a 28-3 record, the highest winning percentage in program history. The Bulldogs secured their fourth straight WCC regular-season title with a conference- and program-record-tying 17-1 mark. Gonzaga was positioned to host the NCAA Tournament First and Second Rounds before the abrupt end of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortier's Zags further displayed national dominance both offensively and defensively, ranking second in the country in three-point field goal percentage (39.5%) and third in scoring defense (51.9 points per game). Five players earned WCC All-Conference recognition in 2019-20, highlighted by WCC Player of the Year Jill Townsend, while six players were named WCC All-Academic. For her efforts, Fortier was named a semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year award.

In 2018-19, Fortier led the Bulldogs to a No. 11 USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll ranking and a No. 12 Associated Press Poll ranking while guiding the Zags to a 29-5 overall record, which tied for the second-most wins in program history at the time. GU claimed its third straight WCC regular-season title, while Fortier was named WCC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in five seasons, surpassing her own conference record for the award. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history and the fourth time under Fortier, securing a No. 5 seed. Gonzaga advanced to the NCAA Second Round before falling to Oregon State, 76-70, in Corvallis, Oregon. Fortier coached three Zags to First Team All-WCC honors in Laura Stockton, Zykera Rice and Chandler Smith, while Jill Townsend was selected as an honorable mention. Fortier was also named a Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year late-season candidate and was recognized among Spokane's Women in Business Leadership Award honorees.

In 2017-18, with a young team that carried just one senior on the roster, Fortier posted a 27-6 record, marking the program's 10th 25-win season in 11 years. The Zags went 17-1 in conference play, becoming the first WCC team to accomplish the feat, and claimed the regular-season title. Gonzaga went on to capture the WCC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history. Three players earned WCC All-Conference recognition, led by WCC Player of the Year Jill Barta. Barta became the third Zag in history to be named First Team All-WCC in each of her first three seasons.

In 2016-17, Fortier's Zags swept the WCC regular-season and tournament championships while Fortier became the fastest coach in program history to reach 50 victories. At 26-7, Gonzaga advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth time in program history. Fortier's 2016-17 squad set program records in three-pointers made (224) and free-throw percentage (77.4%), while also breaking the single-game three-pointers made record three times, ultimately reaching 17. Jill Barta became just the second sophomore in Gonzaga's Division I era to score 1,000 career points.

In 2015-16, Fortier led the Zags to the WNIT Second Round behind freshman standout Jill Barta. Barta was selected First Team All-WCC, becoming the first freshman in eight years to earn the honor, while Shelby Cheslek collected All-WCC Honorable Mention recognition. Cheslek was also named WCC All-Academic First Team, while Kiara Kudron, Shaniqua Nilles, Emma Stach, Georgia Stirton and Elle Tinkle received honorable mention selections.

In 2014-15, her first season as head coach, Fortier led Gonzaga to a 26-8 finish and its seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Zags advanced to their fourth Sweet 16 following a pair of upsets in the opening two rounds as an 11-seed. Gonzaga set program records during the 2014-15 season, including a 77.4% free-throw percentage that ranked fourth nationally. The Bulldogs also established new marks in free throws made (534) and three-pointers made (211). Fortier was named WCC Coach of the Year after guiding the Zags to their 11th straight WCC regular-season title. Four Bulldogs collected All-WCC honors, as Sunny Greinacher and Elle Tinkle were named All-WCC First Team, Keani Albanez earned All-WCC Second Team honors and Emma Wolfram was selected to the WCC All-Freshman Team. Fortier was also named the WBCA Division I Rookie Coach of the Year after completing one of the most successful debut seasons in program history.

Fortier first came to Gonzaga in 2004, spending two years as the coordinator of basketball operations. She then spent one season as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado before returning to GU in 2007. In her seven years as a Gonzaga assistant, the Bulldogs produced an overall record of 196-43. The Zags dominated the West Coast Conference during that span, compiling a 98-8 mark to go along with seven consecutive WCC regular-season championships and five WCC Tournament titles.

After a second-round appearance in the WNIT in Fortier's first season as an assistant, the Zags qualified for the NCAA Tournament the next six years, which included a stretch of three straight Sweet 16 appearances from 2010-12. The highlight was an Elite Eight run in 2011, in which the Bulldogs upset three higher-seeded teams.

In addition to serving as Gonzaga's recruiting coordinator, Fortier was responsible for coordinating GU's defense and also spent time coaching the Bulldogs' guards. She mentored two WNBA draft picks in Courtney Vandersloot and Katelan Redmon, as well as Haiden Palmer. She also coached Taelor Karr, the 2012-13 WCC Player of the Year.

Entering the 2026-27 season, Fortier continues to lead Gonzaga alongside longtime assistant coaches Stacy Clinesmith, Jordan Green and Craig Fortier. The four begin their 13th consecutive season together, having remained on staff since Fortier was named head coach in 2014.

A native of Grass Valley, California, Fortier played collegiate basketball at Butte Community College before transferring to Cal State Monterey Bay. At CSUMB, she earned All-Cal Pac Conference Honorable Mention honors as a junior and was an NAIA Academic All-American in 2003. She also earned the 2004 CSUMB Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

Fortier graduated magna cum laude from CSUMB in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in human communications. She earned her master's degree in sport and athletic administration from Gonzaga in 2006. Fortier was inducted into the Butte College and Cal State Monterey Bay Halls of Fame in 2022.

Fortier, who spent two years as the Assistant Coaches Representative on the WBCA Board of Directors, is married to Craig Fortier, who joined the Gonzaga staff as an assistant coach in May 2014 after previously serving as the associate head men's basketball coach at Eastern Washington University. They welcomed their first son, Marcus, in 2010, their second son, Calvin, in 2012, and their daughter, Quincy, in July 2014.