Feb. 1, 2001

LOGAN, Utah - - Burt Fuller, who has spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach for the national-power UCLA women's volleyball program, has been named the head women's volleyball coach at Utah State University it was announced today by USU director of athletics Rance Pugmire.

"It's good to have someone of this stature take over the program and continue to keep volleyball at Utah State at the level it is now at," said senior associate athletics director Ken Peterson. Peterson, who directed the search added, "Burt will not only keep us at our current level but with his ability to recruit quality athletes he has the capabilities to take the program even further."

In his seven years at UCLA, the Bruins went to the NCAA Tournament six times, including a national runner-up finish in 1994. UCLA has made the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons and finished the 2000 season ranked seventh in the country.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to be a head coach," said Fuller. "I have been waiting for the right opportunity and when I visited Logan I saw what a great program and department Utah State had in place. It is not often that you get the chance to take over a program that is in such good shape. We are going to continue to work hard to maintain the level last years team set."

UCLA volleyball has established itself as one of the most successful programs in the history of volleyball. In the past 34 years UCLA has accumulated 898 victories, earning the distinction as the winningest women's collegiate volleyball program of all time.

"UCLA has simply had one of the best programs in the history of the sport and to get a coach who has been a part of the success is a great for Utah State," said Utah State athletics director Rance Pugmire. "Because of his recruiting ties in the west, and his experience at the highest level we're confident we can continue and improve upon our success."

Prior to coaching at UCLA, Fuller served as the women's head coach at Los Angeles (Calif.) Pierce Junior College for two year's and as an assistant coach with the men's program for five years, capturing the men's title in 1992. In addition, he was an assistant women's coach at Fresno State in 1989 and assisted at Chico State in 1985.

Fuller was also the head coach at Los Altos (Calif.) High School for two years, earning Central Coast Section Coach of the Year in 1988 after his team finished third in the State playoffs and earned a No. 5 national ranking.

During the summer of 1997, Fuller led the USA Maccabiah Team to the World Games in Israel for the second consecutive time, coaching the squad to a gold medal as they defeated Israel for the first time in Maccabiah Games history. He has again been selected to lead the team this summer.

Fuller's professional coaching experience includes the Paul Mitchell women's team on the Bud Light 4-player beach tour in 1994, the head duties for the Santa Monica Sharks of the Women's Western Volleyball League in 1993, and an assistant position with the San Jose Gold Diggers in 1988 and 1989.

Fuller earned his recreation management degree from Chico State in 1986. He was a two-year letter winner for the men's volleyball program from 1984-85. Prior to that, he obtained his associated of arts degree from Los Angeles Pierce Junior College in 1982.

The Fuller File

Coaching Experience
1985			Assistant Women's Coach			Chico State
1989			Assistant Women's Coach			Fresno State
1987, 91-95		Assistant Men's Coach			Los Angeles Pierce JC
1992-93		        Head Women's Coach			Los Angeles Pierce JC
1993, `97		Head Coach                              U.S. Maccabiah Gold Medal Team
1994-01		        Assistant Women's Coach			UCLA

Education
1986			Chico State	                        B.A. in recreation management
1982			Los Angeles Pierce JC			Associate of Arts

Personal
Born January 18, 1960