On the Wavelength : Supporters of Wilson Say He’s an Orange and Blueblood

Pepperdine may have a basketball team in turmoil, but you won’t catch Marty Wilson sweating.

During his first week as the Waves’ interim head coach, he’s taking a calm, cool and uncomplicated approach.

Wilson, 29, knows he could enhance his chances of succeeding Tony Fuller, who resigned abruptly as coach Saturday, if Pepperdine has a strong finish.

Rather than design any radical changes, however, Wilson is directing his energy toward stabilizing a team in transition.

“I’m not going to worry and stress myself out to get the head job,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, life goes on. . . . I’m not going to do anything out of the ordinary.”

The confident Wilson chooses to rely on his instincts and work ethic, qualities he has exhibited since his days at Simi Valley High, where he was a standout player admired as much for his leadership as his basketball skills.

Wilson went on to play for Jim Harrick and Tom Asbury at Pepperdine, and has been a Wave coach for six years, the first four under Asbury.

“He was a guy with tremendous character, along with all the physical aspects and talent to go with it,” said Bob Hawking, Wilson’s coach at Simi Valley and now the coach at Cal State Fullerton.

“Having coached Marty and known Marty, I think he will do a great job [as head coach]. I think there will be a lot of positive things happening.”

Hawking said it’s probably a smart move that Wilson wants to take things slow and easy.

“He’s got a big challenge to take over at this time of the season, with certain things already in place,” Hawking said. “You can go in there and make minor adjustments, but you can’t do anything major at this point.”

Pepperdine Athletic Director Wayne Wright said the school is conducting a nationwide search for a coach in hopes of hiring someone by March 1. But to some on the Malibu campus, the best candidate already works there.

“Marty is Pepperdine,” Wave assistant Carl Strong said. “There is no person who has experienced what that school is all about more than Marty Wilson. As a player and coach, he’s been there for 10 years. He’s a good person and a good coach.

“I hope he would be given a tremendous amount of consideration for the job. He believes in blue and orange [Pepperdine’s colors].”

Wilson also gets Fuller’s endorsement.

“I would hire him because he’s a great guy,” Fuller said. “I have great respect for him. . . . He’s good for those [players].”

Indeed, Wilson said Pepperdine’s players, several of whom he recruited, have asked what they can do to help him get the head job.

“I told them just to continue to do the things they’ve been doing: play hard, go to class,” Wilson said. “If they do the opposite, if they don’t play hard or flunk out of class or get arrested for drunk driving, that will show that I’m not doing my job.”

Wilson hopes to get Pepperdine on track starting this weekend. The Waves (7-9, 0-4 in West Coast Conference play) bring a five-game losing streak into conference road games against Santa Clara tonight and St. Mary’s on Saturday night.

Wilson and his staff, Strong and Jon Wheeler, have been making minor changes in the game plan.

“We’re trying to simplify some things that will free up [the players’] minds so they can play with less distractions on the court,” Wilson said. “Obviously they have enough on their minds thinking about Coach Fuller.”

Wilson said he called the players Sunday, a day after Fuller stunned the school by announcing his resignation only hours before the Waves’ game against Santa Clara. Fuller, in his second season as coach, said he was not satisfied with the team’s performance under his guidance.

“Our main obstacle is to get the players focused back on the basketball court,” Wilson said.

Wilson wants the Waves to play more-aggressive defense. He says the team can still achieve its preseason goal--reaching the NCAA tournament--if it stays together and gets healthy. Forward Will Weir, sidelined the last five games because of chronic asthma, is expected to miss this weekend’s games, again leaving the Waves with only eight players.

“In college, I wasn’t a great offensive player, but I was an intense defensive player and I consider myself an intense coach,” Wilson said. “We have some guys who can get after it defensively and create easier opportunities on the offensive end.”

Born in Pacoima, the 6-foot-3 Wilson was a self-admitted “ball hog” at Simi Valley, where he was known for scoring and his ability to play every position. He was honored as Ventura County player of the year his senior season after averaging 21.6 points and 10.4 rebounds and leading the Pioneers to a 22-3 record.

“He was a special guy,” Hawking recalled. “His [senior] team was called the Rat Pack because they were in the gym all the time. He wanted to win and he’s carried that beyond [high school].”

At Pepperdine, Wilson’s role changed to ballhandler and defensive specialist playing point guard. He was a backup his first two seasons, then missed the 1986-87 season because of a back injury. He became a starter the next season, but was sidelined again by a knee injury that required surgery. He returned to the starting lineup in the 1988-89 season and helped the Waves finish 20-13 and reach the second round of the National Invitation Tournament, their first postseason advance since 1982.

Wilson was honored as most valuable player of that Pepperdine team despite averaging only 5.5 points.

“That tells you a little bit about all the intangible things he gave that team,” Hawking said.

After graduating with a degree in communications, Wilson said he was considering a “9-to-5 desk job” when he learned of a coaching opening at Pepperdine.

Wilson called Hawking, a former Wave assistant, for advice.

“Coach Hawking told me I’d have to be crazy to get into coaching,” Wilson recalled. “You do have to be a little crazy, but I’ve enjoyed it.”

During Wilson’s coaching tenure at Pepperdine, the Waves have compiled a record of 103-63, advancing to the NCAA tournament three times and the NIT once.

Wilson recently wrote a comprehensive manual of basketball drills and fundamentals, and has been host of a free summer camp the past two years in Pacoima.

Wilson said he has spoken with Wright, the athletic director, about his responsibilities now that he is Pepperdine’s eighth head coach in 58 years.

Did he ask Wright what his chances are to be hired permanently?

“I didn’t want to ask him,” Wilson said.

“I know if I do a good job, I’ll be considered for the job. If not, they’ll hire someone else.”