By ADAM ZAGORIA
Former Georgia and Nevada coach Mark Fox was named the new head coach at Cal on Friday.
Fox is 286-176 (.619) all-time as a head coach with five NCAA Tournament appearances, three at Nevada and two at Georgia. He went 18-15 at Georgia in 2017-18 before being let go.
“Mark Fox is a man of unparalleled integrity with a proven record of success as a head basketball coach,” Cal AD Jim Knowlton said. “He is an inspiring leader, a teacher and an exceptional communicator who has displayed a strong commitment to developing the entire student-athlete on the court and off the court. We had an exceptional pool of candidates, and through the entire process, one person clearly rose to the top. I am excited to welcome Mark to the Cal family and look forward to him leading Cal men’s basketball program to new heights. We want our teams to be exceptional, and I firmly believe that Mark is the person to lead us there.”
Fox will bring strong West Coast roots to Cal, as he began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Washington from 1991-93 before spending the next six seasons on staff at Kansas State. Fox then served as associate head coach at Nevada before taking over the lead role prior to the 2004-05 campaign.
Outside of coaching, Fox is a former chair of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee and member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Ethics Coalition. He has also raised nearly $1 million for Coaches vs. Cancer.
“Cindy and I are extremely excited to join the Cal family and lead the basketball program,” Fox said. “The academic excellence of the University of California combined with the vision and leadership of Jim Knowlton offer an amazing opportunity. I appreciate Chancellor Christ and Jim’s belief and trust in me to lead this proud program forward. Early in my coaching career, I had the privilege to spend time with coach Pete Newell. It will be my honor to lead the Bears on the court gracing his name. The lineage of greatness of the Pac-12 offers a tremendous platform for Cal basketball. Cindy and our family are ready to lead these young men in the pursuit of excellence both on and off the court.”
(Release via Cal)
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