Cal State Northridge's basketball program began in 1958 and the Matadors compete in the Big West Conference. The program transitioned to Division I in 1990 and has reached the NCAA Tournament twice, in 2001 and 2009. CSUN has been competitive in the Big West with occasional tournament appearances.
The Matadors nickname was chosen in 1958 to evoke the bravery and showmanship of bullfighters, reflecting Southern California's Spanish cultural heritage.
Winning the 2001 Big Sky Conference Tournament championship, earning the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I school.
CSUN's campus was devastated by the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which destroyed or damaged nearly every building on campus — the basketball program had to play home games off-site for years during reconstruction.
The Cal State Northridge Matadors compete in the Big West and hold an all-time record of 468–614 (.433 winning percentage) across 36 recorded seasons dating back to 1990-91.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 20-14 | 12-8 (Big West) | Andy Newman | |
| 2024-25 | 22-11 | 14-6 (Big West) | Andy Newman | |
| 2023-24 | 19-15 | 9-11 (Big West) | Andy Newman | |
| 2022-23 | 7-25 | 4-16 (Big West) | Trent Johnson | |
| 2021-22 | 7-23 | 3-15 (Big West) | Trent Johnson | |
| 2020-21 | 9-13 | 5-9 (Big West) | Mark Gottfried | |
| 2019-20 | 15-17 | 10-6 (Big West) | Mark Gottfried | |
| 2018-19 | 13-21 | 7-9 (Big West) | Mark Gottfried | |
| 2017-18 | 6-24 | 3-13 (Big West) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2016-17 | 11-19 | 7-9 (Big West) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2015-16 | 10-20 | 5-11 (Big West) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2014-15 | 9-24 | 4-12 (Big West) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2013-14 | 17-18 | 7-9 (Big West) | Reggie Theus | |
| 2012-13 | 14-17 | 5-13 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2011-12 | 7-21 | 3-13 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2010-11 | 14-18 | 9-7 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2009-10 | 11-21 | 6-10 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2008-09 | 17-14 | 11-5 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2007-08 | 20-10 | 12-4 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2006-07 | 14-17 | 5-9 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2005-06 | 11-17 | 4-10 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2004-05 | 18-13 | 12-6 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2003-04 | 14-16 | 7-11 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2002-03 | 14-15 | 8-10 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2001-02 | 12-16 | 11-7 (Big West) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 2000-01 | 22-10 | 13-3 (Big Sky) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 1999-00 | 20-10 | 10-6 (Big Sky) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 1998-99 | 17-12 | 9-7 (Big Sky) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 1997-98 | 12-16 | 7-9 (Big Sky) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 1996-97 | 14-15 | 8-8 (Big Sky) | Bobby Braswell | |
| 1995-96 | 7-20 | 2-4 (AWC) | Pete Cassidy | |
| 1994-95 | 8-20 | 4-2 (AWC) | Pete Cassidy | |
| 1993-94 | 8-18 | Ind | Pete Cassidy | |
| 1992-93 | 10-17 | Ind | Pete Cassidy | |
| 1991-92 | 11-17 | Ind | Pete Cassidy | |
| 1990-91 | 8-20 | Ind | Pete Cassidy |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|