Sneed Out as CS Fullerton Coach

The contract of Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball Coach John Sneed will not be renewed for next season, it was announced Monday.

Sneed, 43, was appointed interim head coach on Nov. 3, 1988, after George McQuarn resigned following eight seasons as Fullerton’s head coach. Sneed guided the Titans to a 16-13 record in his first season and was rewarded with a three-year contract, which expires at the end of March.

Sneed’s teams had a 55-59 overall record and were 31-41 in Big West conference games.

This season, the Titans were 12-16 overall and 8-10 in the Big West. Fullerton finished with a 77-71 loss to Cal State Long Beach last Friday night in a first-round game of the conference’s postseason tournament.

“We feel it is time for new leadership in the men’s basketball program,” said Bill Shumard, the school’s director of athletics. “John took over the program under difficult circumstances and did a respectable job during his four years, but we feel the potential exists to be more competitive. We think someone else can take us to a higher level.

“A search committee will be assembled tomorrow. We want to move quickly on this appointment and hire a new coach shortly after the Final Four.”

The Final Four will be held April 4-6 at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.

Sneed came to Fullerton as an assistant to McQuarn before the 1980-81 season. Before that, Sneed was an assistant at Arizona and San Diego State.

The Titans return three starters next season--forward Bruce Bowen, point guard Aaron Sunderland and center Sean Williams.