Pepperdine Hires Virginia Assistant Griff Aldrich as New Coach

Aldrich brings championship pedigree and experience transforming programs to Waves men's basketball

Mar. 27, 2026 at 6:49am

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Pepperdine University has hired Griff Aldrich, the former head coach at Longwood University and most recently an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, as its new men's basketball head coach. Aldrich, 51, has a proven track record of leading teams to the NCAA Tournament and is tasked with reviving a Pepperdine program that has struggled in recent years.

Why it matters

Pepperdine is hoping Aldrich's experience in building successful programs can translate to the Waves, who have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2002. His hiring represents a major investment by the university to elevate its men's basketball team and compete at a higher level in the West Coast Conference.

The details

Aldrich spent the 2025-26 season as an associate head coach at Virginia, helping the Cavaliers to a 30-6 record and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Longwood from 2018-2025, compiling a 127-100 record and leading the Lancers to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2024. Pepperdine fired previous head coach Ed Schilling in March after he went 22-45 (8-28 WCC) in two seasons with the program.

  • Aldrich was hired as Pepperdine's new head coach on March 27, 2026.
  • He spent the 2025-26 season as an associate head coach at the University of Virginia.

The players

Griff Aldrich

The 51-year-old Aldrich is Pepperdine's new head men's basketball coach, bringing a proven track record of success from his time as head coach at Longwood University and most recently as an associate head coach at the University of Virginia.

Tanner Gardner

The Pepperdine athletic director who announced the hiring of Griff Aldrich, citing his passion for developing young men, proven ability to transform programs, and alignment with the university's mission.

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What they’re saying

“The opportunity to build a championship-caliber program within a University that promotes faith, academics, and excellence is tremendously exciting for our family. 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.”

— Griff Aldrich, New Pepperdine Men's Basketball Head Coach

“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.”

— Tanner Gardner, Pepperdine Athletic Director

What’s next

Aldrich will begin assembling his coaching staff and recruiting players to Pepperdine as he looks to quickly turn around the Waves' men's basketball program.

The takeaway

Pepperdine has made a significant investment in its men's basketball future by hiring Griff Aldrich, an experienced coach with a proven track record of building successful programs. His arrival represents a major opportunity for the Waves to re-establish themselves as a contender in the West Coast Conference.