Tony Fuller

In the shadow of the man with the highest winning percentage in NCAA history, UCLA assistant Tony Fuller was introduced here Wednesday as San Diego State's new basketball coach. With Jerry Tarkanian signing books less than 30 minutes away from the San Diego State campus, Fuller went from working under Jim Harrick to working over Jim Harrick Jr. Fuller, 33, who has no previous head coaching experience, will keep Harrick Jr.

A day after abruptly resigning as Pepperdine's basketball coach, Tony Fuller said Sunday he was comfortable with his decision and looking forward to relaxing and spending time with his family. But Fuller gave no definitive reason for stepping down in the middle of his second season as coach, a position he recently said was his dream job. "I just thought this was best for the team, that's all," he said. "There are no big secrets, nothing like that."

San Diego State Coach Tony Fuller, a former player and assistant at Pepperdine, was hoping to make an impression Saturday night in his return to Malibu. This wasn't what he had in mind. After a slow start, Pepperdine rolled to an 89-61 nonconference victory over the Aztecs before 2,213 at Firestone Fieldhouse. It was not the most artistic outing for the Waves (3-0), who committed 15 turnovers and were called for 25 fouls. But the result was the same as in their first two games.

In a move that stunned players and colleagues, Tony Fuller resigned as Pepperdine's basketball coach Saturday, only hours before the Waves' West Coast Conference game against Santa Clara. Assistant Marty Wilson served as interim coach in the Waves' 87-76 loss before 1,873 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Fuller, 37, a former UCLA assistant who is in his second season as coach, could not be reached for comment.

They slapped a new coat of paint on the San Diego State basketball offices. They stuck a new man in the head coach's chair. They gave Peterson Gym a makeover and recruited some Division II schools for the schedule. But there is a saying: You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Last year's edition put together the most embarrassing season in school history, a 2-26 mark (not including two exhibition losses). These guys became as addicted to losing as Geraldo Rivera to slime.

Kirk Goehring, a starter until he quit the Pepperdine basketball team this week, indicated Wednesday from his home in Jackson, Tenn., that he had not enjoyed playing for first-year Coach Tony Fuller. "It just didn't work out," said Goehring, a sophomore forward who transferred to Pepperdine after playing as a freshman at Louisiana State. "I came there to play for coach (Tom) Asbury and then, obviously, coach Asbury left (for Kansas State).

Tony Fuller has been named Pepperdine basketball coach, returning to the school where he once starred and was an assistant. Fuller, who coached San Diego State the last two seasons, replaces Tom Asbury, who resigned April 12 to coach at Kansas State. "Pepperdine has always been a special place for me," Fuller said. "Sixteen years ago, I decided I wanted to play here and coach here some day. Through the grace of God, that dream has been realized. "We've got a lot of work to do."

Cleaning out the notebook on San Diego State basketball . . . Welcome to the graveyard, Tony. Forget the notion that San Diego State is a golden opportunity for a young coach, particularly one who might consider the position to be a career steppingstone. If history is a teacher, Tony Fuller has arrived at his last stop as a collegiate coach at the age of 33. Huh?

A greater debacle could hardly befall a first-year coach. Pepperdine slides to its worst record in 17 years and players flee. "I don't like the place and I don't like the coach," said Joey Ramirez, a guard now at UC Riverside. "I can't handle another year at Pepperdine." Five players transferred, and although they had combined to shoot a woeful 34.3% from the field, their parting shots rattled Coach Tony Fuller. "There has definitely been an adjustment on my part," Fuller said.

In a move that stunned players and colleagues, Tony Fuller resigned as Pepperdine's basketball coach Saturday, only hours before the Waves' West Coast Conference game against Santa Clara. Assistant Marty Wilson served as interim coach in the Waves' 87-76 loss before 1,873 at Firestone Fieldhouse. Fuller, 37, in the middle of his second season as coach, could not be reached for comment.

A greater debacle could hardly befall a first-year coach. Pepperdine slides to its worst record in 17 years and players flee. "I don't like the place and I don't like the coach," said Joey Ramirez, a guard now at UC Riverside. "I can't handle another year at Pepperdine." Five players transferred, and although they had combined to shoot a woeful 34.3% from the field, their parting shots rattled Coach Tony Fuller. "There has definitely been an adjustment on my part," Fuller said.

Three Pepperdine basketball players, all citing communication problems with first-year Coach Tony Fuller, have announced their transfers to other schools. Junior Joey Ramirez and freshmen Josh Merrill and Jamar Holcomb have asked to be released from their athletic scholarships and will leave Pepperdine at the end of the semester in April. They have yet to decide on future schools.

Kirk Goehring, a starter until he quit the Pepperdine basketball team this week, indicated Wednesday from his home in Jackson, Tenn., that he had not enjoyed playing for first-year Coach Tony Fuller. "It just didn't work out," said Goehring, a sophomore forward who transferred to Pepperdine after playing as a freshman at Louisiana State. "I came there to play for coach (Tom) Asbury and then, obviously, coach Asbury left (for Kansas State).

Tony Fuller will find himself in familiar surroundings this morning when he conducts his first practice as Pepperdine's basketball coach. "It's kind of like deja vu, " said Fuller, a former player and assistant at Pepperdine who was hired in April to replace Tom Asbury after Asbury moved to Kansas State. "Sometimes, I feel like I've never left."

Tony Fuller has been named Pepperdine basketball coach, returning to the school where he once starred and was an assistant. Fuller, who coached San Diego State the last two seasons, replaces Tom Asbury, who resigned April 12 to coach at Kansas State. "Pepperdine has always been a special place for me," Fuller said. "Sixteen years ago, I decided I wanted to play here and coach here some day. Through the grace of God, that dream has been realized. "We've got a lot of work to do."

Tony Fuller will find himself in familiar surroundings this morning when he conducts his first practice as Pepperdine's basketball coach. "It's kind of like deja vu, " said Fuller, a former player and assistant at Pepperdine who was hired in April to replace Tom Asbury after Asbury moved to Kansas State. "Sometimes, I feel like I've never left."

Three Pepperdine basketball players, all citing communication problems with first-year Coach Tony Fuller, have announced their transfers to other schools. Junior Joey Ramirez and freshmen Josh Merrill and Jamar Holcomb have asked to be released from their athletic scholarships and will leave Pepperdine at the end of the semester in April. They have yet to decide on future schools.

San Diego State Coach Tony Fuller, a former player and assistant at Pepperdine, was hoping to make an impression Saturday night in his return to Malibu. This wasn't what he had in mind. After a slow start, Pepperdine rolled to an 89-61 nonconference victory over the Aztecs before 2,213 at Firestone Fieldhouse. It was not the most artistic outing for the Waves (3-0), who committed 15 turnovers and were called for 25 fouls. But the result was the same as in their first two games.