Syracuse Assistant to Coach Long Beach State

Wayne Morgan, a longtime assistant coach at national-champion runner-up Syracuse, was introduced Wednesday as the new men’s basketball coach at Long Beach State.

Morgan, 45, replaces Seth Greenberg, who left to take over the University of South Florida program April 3. Morgan served as an assistant at Syracuse since 1984, and the Orangemen played in two national-title games during his tenure. Morgan said he plans to help Long Beach reach similar heights.

“We want to make Long Beach State a household name, not just in California but everywhere from New York to Florida,” Morgan said during an afternoon news conference at the Pyramid. “Long Beach has a good national reputation, and we want to build on that and enhance it.”

Financial terms of Morgan’s contract were not released, but sources within the 49er athletic department said Morgan received a base salary of approximately $115,000. Certain performance-based incentives and other perks could push the total package to about $130,000 in its first year.

Long Beach players were pleased with Morgan’s selection as the 14th head coach in 49er history. He impressed several members of the Big West Conference-championship team during a meeting Tuesday.

“We feel that he’s the right guy, and that he will do what’s best for the team,” said sophomore guard James Cotton, a first-team all-conference selection. “We’ve been on such an emotional roller coaster the last two weeks, going up and down and up and down. Now, we’re up again, and we all feel good about this.”

Morgan emerged from a pack of more than 100 applicants. He was among six finalists to be interviewed.

“He really blew our socks off during his interview,” said Long Beach associate athletic director Bill Husak, who chaired the search committee.

Morgan said he has not decided on his staff. Long Beach assistants Clyde Vaughan, Matt Hart and Jason Levy will be considered for positions.

“It’s going to be an open process and we’re going to talk to everyone who is interested,” Morgan said. “When we finalize this staff, it’s going to be the best one for Long Beach State.”

Morgan will probably need to hire at least one assistant with experience recruiting on the West Coast. Although Morgan was an accomplished recruiter while at Syracuse, he was not responsible for recruiting in this area. Vaughan, also among the finalists for the head coaching job, was the lead recruiter on Greenberg’s staff and is responsible for signing many of the 49ers’ top players.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t get the job, but they got a good man,” Vaughan said. “He’s going to do a good job, and I’d like to work with him if that’s the best situation for me and my family.”

Kansas assistant Matt Doherty and Cal State Bakersfield Coach Pat Douglass also received much consideration. Doherty was the leading candidate as late as Tuesday night, when the search committee convened to make its final recommendation to interim Athletic Director Bill Shumard and Long Beach President Robert Maxson.

However, Doherty removed himself from consideration.

Of Morgan, Maxson said, “We got a great man for the job.”