Coach Fancher out at ASU
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Appalachian State head men’s basketball coach Houston Fancher resigned Monday night, according to a press release sent out by the university.

Fancher had just completed his ninth season as head coach of the Mountaineers. Ap-alachian State went 13-18 this past season, 9-11 in the Southern Conference, and lost to Davidson in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Tournament.

Fancher has guided the Mountaineers to a 138-137 overall record. Appalachian State has won three North Division championships and earned an NIT bid in 2006-07 after going 25-8, 15-3 in the Southern Conference. Appalachian State won the San Juan Shootout that season by beating Virginia, Central Florida and Vanderbilt.

The 25 victories set a school record. He was also named the SoCon’s coach of the year after the 2002-03 season after winning his first North Division title.

Neither Fancher nor Appalachian State athletics director Charlie Cobb could be reached for comment. Both made statements that were included in the press release.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent Appalachian State University for the past 13 years, including the last nine as head coach,” Fancher said in the release. “I hope that I have done so with the class and dignity that the position deserves. I want to thank Chancellor (Dr. Kenneth E.) Peacock and (ASU athletics director) Charlie Cobb for their support. It has been a wonderful experience for me to build a program. The next head coach at ASU will be fortunate to coach the terrific group of kids that are in the program.”

A nationwide search will begin immediately for a new coach, according to the release.

Fancher took over for Buzz Peterson, who left in 2000 to coach at Tulsa and then the following year at Tennessee.

Fancher was Peterson’s assistant coach at Appalachian State for four years, serving his last two as the associate head coach. He was also an assistant at Vanderbilt for one season.

Fancher began his coaching career as an assistant at Maryville College from 1988-92. He was then named head coach at North Greenville College from 1992-95, before moving on to Vanderbilt.

“We appreciate everything that Coach Fancher has done for Appalachian men’s basketball, Mountaineer athletics and the university as a whole over the past 13 years,” Cobb said in the release. “He has been a terrific ambassador for ASU, a valued member of the community and an outstanding leader of young men. We wish Coach Fancher nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”

Fancher at ASU
The year-by-year record of Houston Fancher, who resigned his post as head coach at Appalachian State Monday.
Years Overall SoCon
2000-01 11-20 7-9
2001-02 10-18 5-11
2002-03 19-10 11-5
2003-04 9-21 4-12
2004-05 18-12 9-7
2005-06 14-16 6-8
2006-07 25-8 15-3
2007-08 18-13 13-7
2008-09 13-18 9-11
Totals 138-137 79-82