Morgan’s Job at Long Beach on the Line

The fate of Long Beach State men’s basketball Coach Wayne Morgan has come down to the 49ers’ performance in the upcoming Big West Conference tournament. To save their coach’s job, Athletic Director Bill Shumard indicated, the 49ers are going to have to win it.

Long Beach, which opened conference play with three consecutive victories but then faded, plays Idaho in a first-round game at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Reno.

Morgan, in the third year of a five-year contract, has been under pressure to produce a winner after two disappointing seasons and, at this point, a 12-14 record doesn’t qualify, according to Shumard.

“I’ve told everyone since the end of last season that this was obviously a critical year for Wayne,” Shumard said. “The program needs to visibly turn the corner and show that it is stable and that it can be successful.”

So is 12-14 enough of a turnaround from 10-19 last season?

“At this point, we’re not pleased with the results,” Shumard said. “But we need to remember that the season isn’t over. We have an opportunity to finish strong with the conference tournament. It is widely acknowledged that we have among the best talent in the conference. Logic dictates that we have a shot at being competitive in the conference tournament.”

Sources said if a change is made, Morgan will be reassigned to another department. The university cannot afford to buy out Morgan’s contract, which has a base salary of about $115,000.

In 1995, Long Beach officials reassigned women’s basketball Coach Glenn McDonald, who had one year left on his contract, to the recreation department. McDonald is still with the university.

Morgan, a former Syracuse assistant, could accept the transfer or negotiate a buyout for less money.

Morgan, who has a 35-47 record at Long Beach, has refused to talk about the situation and has reacted tersely to questions.

“This was created by the media,” Morgan said after Long Beach’s victory over UC Irvine on Feb. 18. “Unfortunately, when that starts, the public starts listening.”