Ed Schilling Named Pepperdine Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Brings winning track record including conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances
Pepperdine University has named Ed Schilling head coach of the men’s basketball team. Schilling, who has served as the assistant coach of the Grand Canyon University (GCU) men's basketball program since 2020, will assume his role effective immediately.
“Throughout his decorated tenure at GCU and in the years prior, Coach Schilling has
demonstrated the highest levels of leadership in player development and preparedness
for the rigors of collegiate and professional basketball,” said Pepperdine president
Jim Gash in a message to the community. “His extensive coaching experience throughout
his career has exemplified the visionary leadership, strategic thinking, adaptability,
and emotional intelligence required to navigate the world of college athletics. I
look forward to a new era of Pepperdine basketball under Coach Schilling’s leadership.”
During Schilling’s first season at GCU, the program won its first conference title and qualified for its first NCAA Tournament in 2021. The team went on to claim the 2023 and 2024 Western Athletic Conference title and made three total appearances in the NCAA tournament. Prior to coaching at GCU, Schilling served as an assistant coach at Indiana University Bloomington from 2017 to 2019 and at UCLA from 2013 to 2017. During his tenure at UCLA, the Bruins compiled a 96-45 overall record, made three Sweet Sixteen appearances (2014, 2015, and 2017), and sent nine players to the NBA. Schilling was also the assistant coach under basketball coaching legend John Calipari on three different teams—UMass, the University of Memphis, and the New Jersey Nets. His first collegiate coaching season with UMass posted a 35-2 record and made a Final Four appearance.
Prior to his impressive experience in collegiate and professional basketball, Schilling, a Lebanon, Indiana, native, coached high school basketball at Park Tudor School, Western Boone Junior-Senior High School, and Logansport High School in his home state. Schilling also coached the Adidas High School All-American Team in various national and international competitions and was a director and trainer at the Champions Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana. Schilling has an extensive background in player development and, from 2007 to 2013, trained more than 60 players per year at St. Vincent’s Sports Performance and its NBA readiness program, where he prepared high-profile young players for the NBA draft.
“I am thrilled and appreciative to start this new chapter as the head coach for the men's basketball team at Pepperdine University,” Schilling said. “The University's prestigious academic reputation, beautiful campus, and the passionate vision for basketball success from President Gash, Tim Perrin, and Tanner Gardner make this opportunity a remarkable blessing.”
As a student-athlete, Schilling was a four-year starting point guard and a two-time captain at Miami University in Ohio from 1985 to 1988. At Miami, Schilling helped lead the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances and was a three-time academic all-conference selection. He also established single-game, season, and career assist records at Miami University, all of which are still standing.
Deeply passionate about inspiring players to perform at the highest level, Schilling has co-authored two books—Guard Play (1998), which covers the technical skills and leadership attributes necessary to be a successful point guard or shooting guard, and Five Star Basketball (1993), a collection of inspirational words and playing techniques by some of the greatest collegiate basketball coaches.
Learn more about the Pepperdine men’s basketball program on the Pepperdine University Athletics website.