Posted: Jun 08, 2015

Victor Accepts Assistant Job at Eastern Washington

Citrus College Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Victor has stepped down from the Owls' top spot and accepted a position on the staff of NCAA Division I Eastern Washington University.

Glendora, CA -- Citrus College Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Victor has accepted a position on the Men's Basketball staff at NCAA Division I Eastern Washington University it was announced on Monday. Victor will join a program that is coming off a share of the Big Sky Conference regular season championship and Big Sky Conference Tournament championship, as well as the Eagles' second ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.

"I am extremely grateful for the incredible experience I have had at Citrus over the last five years. I am thankful for the amazing support the program has received, from President Dr. Geraldine M. Perri to all of the Owl faithful," Victor said. "I want to personally thank Jody Wise (Dean of Kinesiology and Athletics), the athletic department faculty and staff, our assistant coaches and basketball alumni for their efforts in continuing to make Citrus Basketball something that we are all proud of."

In his five seasons at the helm of the Owls, Victor compiled a 103-39 record (.725) and 44-16 (.733) mark in Western State Conference South Division pay. Citrus won one conference championship (2012), and appeared in the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs all five seasons. In 2011, the Owls advanced all the way to the CCCAA State Championship Game, and all the way to the CCCAA Final Four in 2012 under the guidance of Coach Victor.

"Chris will be sorely missed in the Citrus College Athletic Department," said Citrus College Dean of Kinesiology and Athletics Jody Wise. "Not only has Coach Victor run a successful program over the past five seasons, he has done so in a way that has made the rest of the Owls Athletic program proud."

Over the past four seasons, every single sophomore that has finished with the program has gone on to earn a spot at a four-year school. Nine players have gone on to play at the Division I level, while a total of 22 sophomores from 2011-2014 have continued their collegiate basketball careers past Citrus. Victor coached two WSC South Players of the Year (Chris Reyes - 2014 | James Walker - 2012), and the State Player of the Year in 2012 (James Walker). The Owls have had continued their success in the classroom as this past season, eight players from the 2014-2015 roster were named Citrus College Scholar Ballers (student-athletes who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better), three of which were repeat honorees.

"We are adding a proven winner to our coaching staff," said Eastern Washington University Head Coach Jim Hayford in a release by the university. "I have known Chris since he was a player on a national championship team under one of my best friends, Ken Amman at Concordia in Irvine. Chris has always impressed me with his maturity, competitiveness, and ability to coach. Chris will strengthen our program in many ways."