Ranking the Coaches in the WCC
By Josh Horton
Mar 16, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Pacific Tigers celebrate after the game against the UC Irvine Anteaters during the championship game of the Big West tournament at the Honda Center. The Pacific Tigers defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters 64-55. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
No. 10- Ron Verlin (Pacific)
By Josh Horton
It is going to be hard to replace a coaching legend such as Bob Thomason, but Ron Verlin will try his best. After serving as the associate head coach under Thomason for 19 years, Verlin was given the reins of the Pacific basketball program. It was the easy and popular decision for Pacific athletic director Ted Leland.
Verlin will look to get the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament, after the Tigers made an appearance there last season. The Tigers are graduating a ton of players, including leading scorer Lorenzo McLoud.
As a first year coach, with a lot of uncertainty swirling around about how the future of Pacific basketball is with him at the helm, it is not surprising to find Verlin at the bottom of this list. Joining a conference with the likes of Gonzaga, BYU, and Saint Mary’s will be a great challenge for Verlin, but don’t be surprised if Verlin and the Tigers make some splashes in 2013.