Lions change guard

When Fred Litzenberger was hired as an associate head coach for Vanguard University’s men’s basketball team less than a year ago, the plan was for him to take over the program from Bob Wilson, who doubles as the school’s athletic director.

Right on schedule, Vanguard University announced on Wednesday that Litzenberger, a former assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Oregon, will assume the helm at a program that reached the NAIA Tournament for the first time since 1990.

Wilson had a record of 46-59 in three-plus seasons coaching the Lions. He resigns as basketball coach after leading the Lions to third place in the Golden State Athletic Conference and a 20-13 overall record.

Wilson, who coached for 20 seasons at the University of Hawaii-Hilo and Philips University (Okla.), compiled a career record of 368-332. After being hired as Vanguard’s athletic director in 1996, he took over the men’s basketball job twice in an eight-month span in 2003, on an interim basis after Stephen French was fired at midseason and permanently after Jim DeGroot resigned for personal reasons.

Litzenberger, who was an assistant at NCAA Division I programs like the University of Miami, Fresno State and Colorado State, has had previous success as a head coach. Litzenberger had a stellar four-year stint at NCAA Division III Hamline University in Minnesota, leading the team to two NCAA playoff berths and a semifinal appearance in 1977.

Litzenberger and Wilson have ties that date back to their adolescent years in Colorado and Wilson’s stint as a head coach at the University of Hawaii-Hilo.

“Coach Wilson and I have known each other for a long time,” Litzenberger said. “We knew each other in Colorado during our high school years. We went to different schools, but we knew each other. And I helped him with his basketball camp when he was at the University of Hawaii-Hilo. I have a great appreciation for Coach Wilson. I’m so happy he went out having had a great year.”

Litzenberger, who said he likes to run a fast-break style of offense, knew it would be a challenge at Vanguard when he was first hired with the understanding he would transfer into the head coaching position.

“Coach Wilson said that’ll take a lot of hard work, that the team hadn’t had a lot of success the past 10 years,” Litzenberger said. “He said he wants to get the program back to where it was when they had great success here.”

Litzenberger watched as senior point guard Horace Wormely and senior Levi Seekins became stars for the Lions. Now he’s out looking for the next Wormely and Seekins.

“It’ll be hard to replace a guy like Horace,” Litzenberger said. “He came so far this year. I’ll be out hitting the recruiting trail trying to fill that point guard [spot], which is probably the most important position on the court. And we need inside help, too. I’ll try to find guys with great character who want to get better.”

Wilson steps down confident in the direction the program is going.