Photos

By the time Cerritos College women's basketball head coach Trisha Kozlowski was a senior in high school, she was already considered a legend in her community. The basketball and soccer star at Our Lady of Mercy High in Rochester, NY, Kozlowski (nee Raniewicz) was selected the Rochester Player of the Year and the league's Most Valuable Player three years in a row. On September 26, Kozlowski was inducted into her high school's Hall of Fame.

One aspect of her youth never left her side, as family and friends made the trip to help see Kozlowski inducted.

"My family was there for the induction and Miss Kathy Boughton, my high school coach at Mercy was also inducted in the 2025 Hall of Fame class," stated Kozlowski, who is about to enter her 11th season as the Falcons head coach. "She was the first person to believe in me and I so appreciate her patience and guidance as a coach during those early years. I had saved a coaching philosophy of Miss Boughton's from 1997 and gave it back to her at the ceremony. She was the first person who modeled great leadership for me and I am so appreciative of her presence in my life."

In her playing career, Kozlowski set a Section V record by averaging 31.8 points a game as a senior in 1999 and was voted the AGR (All Greater Rochester) Player of the Year. Against Holy Angels High, Kozlowski set a Section V record by scoring 57 points.

"I remember going to Mercy's youth camp in 5th grade and saying to myself that I wanted to be a Mercy Monarch one day," added Kozlowski. "My parents sacrificed a lot to make that happen and this honor is truly a testament to that sacrifice. I have fond memories of teammates who always had my back no matter what - singing on snowy van rides, team dinners and movie nights. After winning our first sectional title, my team sat in the front row of the Mercy auditorium and sang "We are the Champions" by Queen in front of the entire school. Didn't matter how terrible the rendition was, we were in it together and we had earned that moment."

In a high school that went from sixth grade through 12th and had an enrollment of just 500 students, Kozlowski had a chance to watch her soon-to-be team every year and prepare for her time to be a Monarch. In her first season with the program, she helped the team win the Section V Class A championship and was an all-tournament selection. She saved some of her best performance against rivals such as Aquinas High, Bishop Kearney High, Pittsford Mendon High, Greece Athena High, Brockport High, and Fairport High.

Even though she was a two-sport star that was showered with accolades, home life was still as normal as any other.

"My life has always gone in seasons, and I went from club basketball in the summer right into soccer, which is a fall sport back East," stated Kozlowski. "Almost everyone who played soccer also played basketball at Mercy. There were times where we would be out in the snow practicing for soccer playoffs and then head inside for a basketball practice."

Upon graduating high school, Kozlowski made the decision to travel two hours south and signed with Division I St. Bonaventure University. As a member of the Bonnies basketball team, she set a school record with an .879 free throw percentage, which still stands today. As a freshman, she connected on 88.7%, which is still tied for the third best in school, while her sophomore percentage of 86.8% is seventh. But after a coaching change, Kozlowski made the decision to transfer and ended up at Cal State San Bernardino and was their team captain her senior season.

"There was a head coaching change at St. Bonaventure and I made the move West and have never looked back!" continued Kozlowski. "I've been in California now since 2001 and it was my love for Stanford women's basketball that drew me to California, initially. I honestly didn't really know where San Bernardino was but I knew there was a coach and squad who needed a guard who could shoot the three and had my academic major. I took a leap and was fortunate to meet some of my best friends on those teams at San Bernardino."

After some time coaching at several high schools, Cal State Fullerton, Menlo College, and a season as a video coordinator and scout with the Houston Comets of the WNBA, Kozlowski was hired by former Falcons head coach Karen Welliver to join the staff. In her time as an assistant from 2008-13, the team posted a 99-53 overall record (.651) and captured four South Coast Conference championships. Kozlowski left for Pepperdine University after the 2012-13 season, but upon the retirement of Welliver, Kozlowski was hired as the head coach in 2015 and has posted a 126-111 record, two conference championships and five playoff appearances.

"Coach Welliver used to say, 'don't let anyone steal your joy'", added Kozlowski. "There are ups and downs in all careers and when I say that quote to myself, it reminds me of my love for basketball and all the past and present players here at Cerritos. I feel very lucky to coach the Falcons and I'm always going to choose to be my very best for my players and staff. I hope I make a positive impact on the people I interact with on campus and especially with the players who wear represent the Cerritos community each season."