Pepperdine hires Virginia assistant Griff Aldrich as coach

Pepperdine hired Virginia associate head coach Griff Aldrich as its new men’s basketball coach on Thursday.

“The opportunity to build a championship-caliber program within a University that promotes faith, academics, and excellence is tremendously exciting for our family,” Aldrich said in a statement. “We cannot wait to start this new chapter in Malibu — and to begin building and establishing a program that will become a source of pride for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans.”

Waves athletic director Tanner Gardner added in a statement, “We were looking for a leader who could build something meaningful and sustainable. Griff’s passion for developing young men, his proven ability to transform programs, and his alignment with our mission make him the right person to lead Pepperdine Men’s Basketball. His record of success speaks for itself, and we’re excited for the future under his leadership.”

Aldrich, 51, was the head coach at Longwood from 2018-25, compiling a 127-100 record and leading the Lancers to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2024.

He returned to his alma mater Virginia in 2025-26, joining new coach Ryan Odom’s staff and helping the Cavaliers compile a 30-6 season that ended with a second-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.

Aldrich replaces Ed Schilling, who was fired on March 9 after compiling a 22-45 record (8-28 West Coast Conference) in two seasons with the program in Malibu, Calif.

–Field Level Media