Asbury returning to Pepperdine

MALIBU, Calif., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Tom Asbury, who coached at Pepperdine from 1988-1994, will return next season as the head coach of the Waves, Athletic Director John Watson said Tuesday.

Asbury will replace Vance Walberg who resigned last month after less than two years at Pepperdine. Eric Bridgeland, an assistant who has been interim head coach since Walberg's resignation, will finish the season as coach.

Pepperdine is 9-18 overall this season and 3-8 in the West Coast Conference. The Waves have three regular-season games remaining.

Asbury, 62, spent a total of 15 seasons at Pepperdine, as an assistant from 1979-1988 and then as head coach. Pepperdine was 125-59 while Asbury was the head coach.

He left Pepperdine to become the head coach at Kansas State, a position he held for six seasons. He has been an assistant Alabama Coach Mark Gottfried since the 2003-04 season.

In 12 seasons as a head coach, Asbury has a 240-147 record.