STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) Pacific has promoted top assistant Ron Verlin to be its new basketball coach, replacing Bob Thomason after he spent 25 years coaching his alma mater.

Verlin served as associate head coach for the past 19 years under Thomason, who took the Tigers to the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing 78-49 to No. 2 seed Miami last Friday.

Verlin has been a part of five NCAA tournament runs alongside Thomason and seven Big West Conference crowns. The Tigers will transition back into the West Coast Conference next season, and athletic director Ted Leland went with a familiar face to lead the program forward.