Pepperdine AD Wayne Wright, 64, Says He’ll Retire at End of Year

Wayne Wright, Pepperdine’s athletic director for 21 years and an employee of the school since 1964, has announced he will retire, effective Dec. 31.

Wright, 64, said he planned to retire two years ago but delayed his decision because of instability in the men’s basketball program. The Waves have had three coaches and three consecutive losing seasons since Tom Asbury left to become the Kansas State coach in 1994.

With Pepperdine expected to contend for the West Coast Conference title next season, Wright feels the program has stabilized under second-year Coach Lorenzo Romar.

“I think we’re on firm footing now,” Wright said. “We have one of the best basketball staffs we’ve ever had. The timing [to retire] is much better now.”

Under Wright’s direction, Pepperdine has won six NCAA Division I titles in three men’s sports--volleyball (1978, 1985, 1986 and 1992), baseball (1992) and golf (1997).

Wright coached Pepperdine’s golf team from 1965-68 and was the Wave baseball coach from 1969-76, during which time his teams were in the top 20 five times and appeared in the NCAA regionals three times. He was named West Coast Conference coach of the year in each of those three seasons.

Pepperdine has not yet selected Wright’s successor.