In an abrupt announcement Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 13, Pepperdine University stated that the men’s basketball team head coach Marty Wilson would not be returning for the 2018-19 season after seven years in the position.
As a Pepperdine graduate, Wilson has spent 21 years with the team in various capacities—student-athlete, assistant coach, associate head coach and head coach.
In an online statement, Director of Athletics Dr. Steve Potts said: “It has been decided that terminating the current contract at the end of this season is in the best interests of the program … We wish great success for Marty in the future. We all wish that we had experienced more success in our men’s basketball program and we are committed to identifying new leadership that can help bring us that success.”
During his tenure, Wilson’s win-loss record with the Waves was 86-125. The past two years have not been kind to the men’s basketball team, with a record of 9-22 last year and 4-22 this year.
In his statement, Wilson thanked university officials, head coaches, parents, noting that he had “the opportunity to have watched 21 of 22 young men who have finished their eligibility earn their degree and graduate under our guidance” this spring.
The Waves has begun its search for a replacement head coach.