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2003-04
Men's Basketball
One of the challenges facing new Coach Bob Burton at Cal State Fullerton is rebuilding the attendance base in Titan Gym. But if everyone who recommended him for the vacant Titan job shows up on the same night, the problem will become finding an empty seat! "I've never had, in all my years... and I've been doing this a long time... such an outpouring of support for any one candidate for any position for any sport," said Director of Athletics Brian Quinn on June 6, when Burton signed a four-year contract to take over the Titan program. "From basketball coaches at all levels throughout California and from numerous collegiate head coaches from across the nation, everyone had basically the same comments -- what a great coach he is and what a perfect fit he is for Cal State Fullerton." Burton served last season as an assistant coach at Fresno State and he also was an assistant to Lynn Archibald for one season (1986-87) at Utah. But where he made his many basketball connections was at West Valley Community College in Saratoga in Northern California, where he compiled a 488-158 record in 21 seasons, three times reaching the state championship game. He sent more than 80 players to Div. I programs and more than 100 to other four-year colleges. “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to receive this opportunity,” said Burton, 58. “I've never been one of those guys who has moved around a lot. I've always been happy wherever I've been. I’m looking forward to building a winning program at Cal State Fullerton.” Burton replaced Donny Daniels, who resigned on Apr. 18 to become the lead assistant at UCLA. The Titans were 10-19 overall in 2002-03 and 8-10 in the Big West Conference and the nucleus of that team returns. “I’m extremely excited to have such an outstanding coach join the Cal State Fullerton family,” added Quinn. "Bob has been one of the most successful coaches in California. Not only is he one of the great teachers of the game, he also brings tremendous energy, intelligence and passion to this position. "I don’t believe we could have hired a finer coach, someone to lead us to the success that our community wants and looks forward to." Burton sees obvious parallels in his situation at Fullerton and at Fresno State, where he came in with a new staff after the departure of the Jerry Tarkanian regime. "I told my players here about the things we went through at Fresno -- the plusses and the minuses -- and why we had a great year. "All of them are really looking for a good senior year. Last season was kind of tough with the injuries and the suspension. At least from what they tell me, they're ready to put it behind them." The summer appointment obviously put Burton behind the schedule of his peers. "I've never been this busy in my life,"
said Burton during the summer. "It was crazy. We were trying to do
what most schools already had done, plus we were trying to get ready for
the upcoming season. It's unbelievable, guys commit so early. It's put
us quite behind."
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