Fuller’s Resignation Stuns All but Himself

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.”

Fuller, 37, stunned his players and assistants by announcing his resignation after a pregame meeting Saturday, a few hours before the Waves’ 5 p.m. game against Santa Clara at Firestone Fieldhouse.

“There were some tears shed by all of us,” assistant Carl Strong said of the team’s reaction.

Assistant Marty Wilson served as interim coach in Pepperdine’s 87-76 loss, the team’s fifth consecutive defeat. The Waves (7-9) are last in the West Coast Conference at 0-4.

“I’ve been thinking about [resigning] for a while,” Fuller said. “I just think that’s what needed to be done. I wish the team well.”

However, in a Jan. 11 article in the San Diego Tribune, Fuller gave no indication he was thinking of leaving Pepperdine. Fuller was the coach at San Diego State for two seasons before returning to Pepperdine, where he was a standout guard from 1978-80 and later an assistant under Jim Harrick. Fuller also coached under Harrick at UCLA.

“Truthfully, Pepperdine is the only place I ever wanted to coach,” Fuller told the Tribune. “I’m at Pepperdine as long as they’ll have me.”

Pepperdine Athletic Director Wayne Wright said Fuller was under no pressure because of the team’s losing record. The Waves were 15-27 under Fuller.

Strong, 62, a veteran coach who was hired by Fuller before the 1994-95 season, said he was concerned for his colleague because he knew how much the Pepperdine job meant to Fuller. Strong, Wilson and the Waves’ other assistant, Jon Wheeler, visited Fuller at his home after Saturday’s game.

Fuller said people should not be concerned for his well-being.

“Tell them that I’m fine,” he said. “It’s going to be OK.”

In his short time as Pepperdine’s coach, Fuller dealt with a fair amount of adversity. The Waves were 8-19 last season, their worst record in 17 years, and five players transferred.

With several new players, Pepperdine got off to a 7-4 start this season. But the team has suffered from a lack of depth, playing its four conference games with only eight players because forward Wil Weir, a key reserve, has been sidelined because of chronic asthma.

Fuller said he has no immediate plans, but would like to spend some time with his family in Detroit. Fuller was recently divorced, and his wife and son live in Florida.

He said his divorce was not a factor in his resignation.

“I just want to relax,” he said. “It will all come together soon.”

Wright said he would meet with university officials this morning to decide what direction the school would take in selecting a new coach. He said Wilson would serve as interim coach in the meantime.