Dan Ploog was named the head coach of Azusa Pacific University women’s basketball in May 2025, marking the beginning of a new chapter in a program he has been deeply rooted in for nearly two decades. After spending 18 seasons as the top assistant under longtime head coach T.J. Hardeman, Ploog steps into the lead role as just the eighth head coach in the storied history of Cougar women’s basketball.
Ploog’s appointment is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the mission of Azusa Pacific Athletics and his foundational role in shaping the program’s success over the past 18 years. During his time on staff, Azusa Pacific emerged as a national powerhouse across both the NAIA and NCAA Division II levels. The Cougars made 12 postseason appearances under his guidance, capturing the 2011 NAIA national championship, finishing as national runner-up in 2010, and reaching the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in both 2019 and 2021. The program also earned the NCAA West Region’s No. 1 seed twice during that stretch (2016, 2018), a reflection of consistent excellence and high-level performance.
Beyond the team’s competitive accomplishments, Ploog has long been known as a passionate leader with a heart for student-athlete development. His coaching style emphasizes discipline, energy, and relational investment, with a deep focus on growing young women as leaders both on and off the court. His influence on the culture, work ethic, and spiritual foundation of the program has been felt by every athlete who has come through the Cougar locker room during his tenure.
Ploog inherits the program from T.J. Hardeman, who concluded an extraordinary 18-year run as head coach with over 429 wins, five GSAC championships, four PacWest titles, and the 2011 national championship. More than just professional colleagues, Ploog and Hardeman formed one of the most successful and respected coaching duos in APU Athletics history. Their partnership helped guide the program through its transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II, maintaining a competitive standard and mission-driven identity throughout.
Prior to his coaching career, Ploog was a standout collegiate athlete at Biola University. As a three-year starter and one of the most tenacious defenders in the Golden State Athletic Conference, Ploog helped lead the Eagles to four consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a Final Four berth in 2000. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in sports physiology and left Biola holding the school record for most career games played (136), while averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds during his final three seasons. His grit, leadership, and defensive mindset as a player would later become trademarks of his coaching philosophy.
A 1995 graduate of La Habra High School, Ploog was a two-sport star in basketball and water polo, earning All-American honors in the pool while excelling as a high-impact athlete on the court. His competitive spirit and love for sport eventually led him to pursue basketball at the collegiate level, laying the groundwork for his future in coaching.
Off the court, Ploog’s life is grounded in faith, family, and service. He and his wife Heidi—a former standout basketball player at Biola and the daughter of T.J. Hardeman—have been married for 24 years. Together, they live in Fullerton and are raising four sons: Vander, Hudson, Logan, and Lincoln. As a husband, father, and mentor, Ploog models the values he coaches with—faith, integrity, perseverance, and leadership.
Now at the helm of the Cougar program, Ploog is focused on continuing the tradition of excellence that has defined Azusa Pacific women’s basketball. His vision for the future includes fostering a culture of Christ-centered leadership, maximizing student-athlete potential, and building championship-caliber teams that represent the university’s mission on the national stage.
“Azusa Pacific has been my home for the past 18 years, and it is truly an honor to lead this program,” said Ploog. “I am grateful for the foundation that Coach Hardeman built and the opportunity to continue investing in our incredible student-athletes. We’re excited for the journey ahead, and we’ll continue to pursue greatness with passion, purpose, and faith.”
