UCLA Assistant Named San Diego State Coach : Basketball: Tony Fuller will recruit for Aztecs while coaching for Bruins in the NCAA tournament.

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. as his top assistant and name the rest of his staff--another full-time assistant and one part-time assistant--later. Harrick Jr. had been the Aztecs’ interim coach since Jim Brandenburg was fired Feb. 11.

“I’d like to thank (SDSU Athletic Director Fred) Miller for going out on the limb and hiring a guy like myself,” Fuller said. “It takes guts. That’s the kind of guy I want to work with.”

Fuller gave up a May 1 wedding date--the ceremony has been postponed--but is not giving up the NCAA tournament. Miller and Harrick Sr. agreed Tuesday night that Fuller will recruit for SDSU and continue to coach UCLA in the tournament. The Bruins open West Regional play Friday against Robert Morris in Tempe, Ariz.

Fuller, who will not attend UCLA practices during the tournament, said he will join the Bruins in Tempe either tonight or Friday morning.

“Coach Harrick and I talked about that extensively (Tuesday) night,” Fuller said. “He wanted me to stay on the bench because we have some things that we do, some responsibilities. We feed off one another during the game. He feels comfortable with me there, so I’ll be there during the games and in practice preparations for the games by phone.”

Miller said Fuller was given a three-year contract, with San Diego State officials having an option after two years to extend the pact by a year. Fuller’s base salary will be more than $60,000, and the total package will not be worth more than $100,000.

The announcement ended speculation about Tarkanian, whose 83.7% winning mark is the highest ever by an NCAA coach. Sources say San Diego State President Tom Day quashed the idea.

This is the first head coaching assignment for Fuller, who has been an assistant for the last 10 seasons under Harrick at Pepperdine and UCLA. He also had played one season for Harrick at Pepperdine.

San Diego State had the worst season in school history in 1991-92, finishing 2-26--including 0-16 in the Western Athletic Conference--and a 21-game losing streak.