Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl announced Wednesday that former Appalachian State University head coach Houston Fancher has joined the program in a full-time capacity as director of video scouting.
Fancher’s resume includes more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, with 12 as a head coach. His responsibilities as director of video scouting include oversight of all opponent scouting and recruiting data while assisting with on-campus recruiting.
"Houston and his family fit in so well in this community and as a part of the Tennessee basketball family," Pearl said. "He’s had a lot of success as a former head coach, and he’s got tremendous ties—both personally and professionally—to this area."
A native of Newport, Tenn., Fancher posted a 137-136 record at ASU. His tenure included Southern Conference North Division championships in 2003, 2007 and 2008.
He was named the 2003 SoCon Coach of the Year after winning the first of his three divisional crowns. Then in 2006-07, he was a mid-major national coach of the year finalist after leading Appalachian State to a school-record 25 wins, the San Juan Shootout championship—which included consecutive victories over Virginia, Central Florida and Vanderbilt—and a berth in the National Invitation Tournament.
In 2007-08, Fancher led the Mountaineers to a second consecutive division crown as well as another victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent—defeating Arkansas in North Little Rock. His triumphs over Vanderbilt and Arkansas represent Appalachian State’s only wins over SEC opponents in the program’s history.
Fancher recruited and coached more All-SoCon players than any other coach in Appalachian State history, and he also won more Southern Conference games than any other Mountaineers hoops coach. In total, 18 school records were set during Fancher’s tenure, and he also produced 13 players who continued their careers as professionals overseas.
"Bruce Pearl has taken Tennessee basketball to unprecedented heights, and I am excited to be a part of his tremendous staff,"?Fancher said. "I feel that my experience will enable me to make significant contributions toward the continued success of the program. I?feel fortunate for the opportunity to contribute in any way possible."
In addition to their success on the court, Fancher’s squads also were presented with NCAA Public Recognition Awards in 2005-06 and 2006-07. The NCAA Public Recognition Awards honor programs that rank among the nation’s top 10 percent in their sport in Academic Progress Rate scores. The ASU men’s basketball program fell just hundredths of a percentage point shy of receiving the recognition for a third consecutive year in 2007-08.
Fancher began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Division III Maryville College from 1988-92. He then compiled a 44-41 record as the head coach at North Greenville College from 1993-95 before taking a position as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt for the 1995-96 campaign.
From 1996-2000, Fancher worked as an assistant coach (1996-98) and associate head coach (1998-2000) at Appalachian State, and he was named that program’s 14th head coach following the 1999-2000 season.
Fancher received his undergraduate degree in Physical education in 1988 from Middle Tennessee and later earned a master’s degree in Educational administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.
He is married to the former Cathy Reagan of Jamestown, Tenn. The couple has two sons, Hayden and Ethan, and a 1-year-old daughter, Cameron.
"My family and I love being back in East Tennessee," Fancher said. "I grew up in Newport; my mother and two of my brothers are still there. And Cathy, who is from Jamestown, played basketball at Maryville College."
"We are back in the midst of family and friends. As lifelong card-carrying members of the Vol Nation, we feel honored to be official members of the Tennessee basketball family."
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 17
kyvol98 writes:
Welcome HOME!
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Welcome aboard Houston from an old friend in Newport.
halloffamebowler writes:
What's with all the question marks? I was taught to use them after asking a question.
keepitreal4vols writes:
So why did he get out of coaching? Tired of the travel/recruiting? Was he fired? Sounds like he had a good thing going up there in Boone. He has a GREAT resume for a video scout.
macon_volfan writes:
@keepitreal4vols
HF was fired at Appy St. and was replaced by, I think, Buzz Peterson. Francher was given the job after Buzz left for UT. Strange world.
newtonrail writes:
He was fired, replaced by Buzz, before Buzz moved on this winter to UNC Wilmington, where we just got grad student shot blocker from. The circle of life.
tomatosoup writes:
Welcome to Tennessee country! With everything that has happened lately, we need some great news for one of our programs. You know, the more I think about it, if all the ball players were at home eating tomatosoup instead of out at the bar, none of this would have happened. Welcome to Volunteer country and eat plenty of tomato soup! Go Big Orange!
GreerVol22 writes:
Congratulations Houston from a former CCHS teammate.
AppStVol writes:
He's a solid coach and a very good man to have around the program. He was very good at finding some diamonds in the rough while at App. I heard him speak after one of the bball players drown on Watauga Lake and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. He was already with the team just not in a full time position. He sat behind the bench all of last season.
1vavolfan writes:
It says a lot about the program to get this type of coach in this capacity. Francher did a good job at ASU. He left Buzz with some very good players and he did nothing with them like he did at UT.
JBVols1698 writes:
Can this guy coach the basketball team for a year or 2 while the football team borrows bruce pearl? lol it only takes one year from BP to be in the top 25!
CoverOrange writes:
Two good to great seasons, the rest were mediocre to bad. Resigned after a disappointing 2009 season.
Season Overall Conf
2000–2001 11–20 7–9 T–3rd
2001–2002 10–18 5-11 T–3rd
2002–2003 19–10 11–5 T–1st
2003–2004 9–21 4–12 6th
2004–2005 18–12 9–7 T–2nd
2005–2006 14–16 6–8 4th
2006–2007 25–8 15–3 1st NIT 1st Round
2007–2008 18–13 13–7 T–1st
2008–2009 13–18 9–11 T–2nd
Appalachian State: 137–136 79–73
VOLFTBL writes:
Houston... I am sure you are happy to be back permanently in East TN. Anyone who has ever known you, knows that your blood does run orange! You'll be a great full-time asset to the VOL BB team and Bruce Pearl. Best of luck! Birgit
Orangeblood13 writes:
can he teach free-throws?
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Thats the job I want!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Recruiting well in North Carolina had to be tuff.
I think he'll do well here.
RichmondKyVol writes:
A good newspaper would have included all of that in the story.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.