Pepperdine Coach Knows Wichita Well

Pepperdine is making its first trip to Wichita, but Coach Tom Asbury already is well acquainted with this prairie town along the Arkansas River.

Asbury nearly became the coach at Wichita State two years ago.

He went through a series of interviews and was offered the position, only to decline because of his daughter’s illness and uncertainty in the Wichita State athletic department.

“It would have been difficult to move the family at that time,” he said.

Asbury said he did not turn down the position for financial reasons.

“They made me a great offer,” he said. “The timing just wasn’t right with other things.”

In retrospect, Asbury appears to have made a wise decision as the Waves have continued to prosper the last two seasons and the Shockers have had consecutive losing seasons.