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Pacific promotes top assistant Verlin as new coach
RS34908 Coach Ron Verlin Press Conference10
Longtime assistant Ron Verlin was introduced as the new head coach of the University of the Pacific mens basketball team during a press conference Tuesday. - photo by RANDALL GEE

STOCKTON (AP) — Pacific has promoted top assistant Ron Verlin to be its new basketball coach, replacing Bob Thomason after he spent 25 years coaching his alma mater.

Verlin served as associate head coach for the past 19 years under Thomason, who took the Tigers to the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing 78-49 to No. 2 seed Miami last Friday.

Verlin has been a part of five NCAA tournament runs alongside Thomason and seven Big West Conference crowns. The Tigers will transition back into the West Coast Conference next season, and athletic director Ted Leland went with a familiar face to lead the program forward.

Verlin has served as recruiting coordinator and focused on academic efforts, helping the team to its 96 percent graduation rate during Thomason’s quarter-century tenure.