CONCORD, CA, March 31, 2026—Carondelet High School is thrilled to announce that Shawn Hipol will take the reins as Head Coach of Carondelet's Basketball program.
Coach Hipol is a highly respected Bay Area native with playing experience at Alameda High School and Chico State University, along with two years in the San Francisco Bay Area Pro-Am Basketball League. He also has an impressive coaching background, including six years as Head Varsity Coach at St. Joseph Notre Dame, where he led the Pilots to six North Coast Section (NCS) Finals, three NCS Championships, and two Open Division NorCal Finals. Coach Hipol also spent 15 years within the girls' basketball program at Skyline High School—serving five of those years as the Head Varsity Coach—where he built a lasting foundation of consistency and success. Additionally, Hipol has been a prominent coach within the Cal Stars Basketball Club for over a decade.
Having joined the Carondelet coaching staff during the 2025–26 season, Hipol has already made a meaningful impact by providing vital support across the program and building strong, foundational relationships with Carondelet's student-athletes. Carondelet Basketball has experienced remarkable success over the past 25 years, including two State Championships and 16 NCS Division titles, reflecting the strength and consistency of the program. He will be joined by returning Assistant Varsity Coaches Ryan Rodriguez and Natalie Nicolosi '19, both of whom have been instrumental in sustaining and advancing that success.
Coach Hipol stated, "It is such an honor and privilege that the leadership team at Carondelet has put their trust in me to be the next head coach for the basketball program. I am fired up to get started with this amazing group of young ladies and can't wait to get in the gym!"
Carondelet Athletic Director Alisa Payne said, "Carondelet's basketball program is thrilled that Shawn Hipol will be returning with our basketball program as the Head Varsity Coach. Shawn understands the mission of Carondelet and his leadership aligns with our core values. We are confident that Shawn's coaching experience and his leadership will continue our program's success. We look forward to starting the next chapter of Carondelet Basketball with Coach Hipol."
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About Carondelet Athletics
Carondelet Athletics sponsors 39 teams, 20 sports, 500+ student-athletes with an average GPA of 3.65, and one Cougar Nation! In Carondelet's 60 years, the school has won 150 League Championships, 64 NCS Team Championships, 18 National Cheer and Dance Championships, eight Northern California Team Championships, four State Team Championships, four Individual State Championships, two National Team Championships, and one Individual National Championship. The high school offers a unique athletics experience where students enjoy the opportunity to develop athletic abilities concurrently with the development of the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, sportsmanship, school tradition, and spirit.
About Carondelet High School
Carondelet is an inclusive Catholic college-prep high school in the East Bay that offers young women a transformative educational experience. Since its founding in 1965, Carondelet has combined academic excellence and a recognition of the unique gifts of each of its students. The school's focus is a woman-centered, comprehensive educational program designed to help young women build confidence and prepare for leadership and service in the 21st century.
