Bob Burton Named Men's Basketball Coach

Bob Burton, a veteran community college coach who pledges to bring an up-tempo, fast offense to Titan play, has been named the new men’s basketball coach.

A former assistant coach at Fresno State – the defending Western Athletic Conference champion – Burton previously served as head coach at West Valley Community College in Saratoga, Calif., where he compiled a 507-167 record in 21 seasons.

“I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to receive this opportunity,” said Burton, 57, who also served as an assistant coach at the University of Utah in 1986-87. “I am looking forward to building a winning program at Cal State Fullerton.”

“I am extremely excited to have such an outstanding coach join the Cal State Fullerton family,” said Brian Quinn, athletics director. “I’ve never, in in all my years – and I’ve been doing this a long time – had such an outpouring of support for any one candidate for any position in any sport.”

Basketball coaches at all levels throughout California and numerous collegiate head coaches from across the nation endorsed Burton’s selection.

A search committee headed by Stephen R. Walk, associate professor of kinesiology and health promotion, screened initial applicants. Committee members were John Beisner, director of risk management; Cliff Doubek, athletics program donor; Annette Feliciani, president-elect of the CSUF Alumni Association; Mel Franks, associated athletics director/media relations; Ronald E. Hughes, professor of sociology; Maryalyce Jeremiah, women’s basketball coach; Ali Khosroshahin, women’s soccer coach; Ross McCollum, director of public relations for Associated Students Inc.; and William D. Meyer, professor of theatre and dance.

The committee made recommendations to Quinn, who made the appointment in consultation with President Milton A. Gordon and Robert L. Palmer, vice president for student affairs.