Pacific fires coach Perry after three seasons

Pacific has relieved Leonard Perry of his head-coaching duties after three seasons, the school announced Monday.

He has been reassigned to other duties at the school, according to the announcement. Associate head coach Josh Newman will serve as the team’s interim coach through the West Coast Conference tournament, which begins Thursday.

Perry was the Tigers’ associate head coach for five years before being promoted to the top spot in 2021 when Damon Stoudamire left to become an assistant with the Boston Celtics.

Pacific went 8-22 overall and 3-11 in the WCC during Perry’s first season, but showed dramatic improvement in Year 2, finishing 7-9 in league play and 15-18 overall.

The Tigers won at California in the second game of the 2023-24 season, but the optimism disappeared quickly. Pacific didn’t win a single WCC game and its most recent win over a Division I opponent came Nov. 26.

A national search for Perry’s permanent replacement is underway, the school said.