FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton and Head Coach Dedrique Taylor announced Monday that Anthony Santos has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.
"It is with the biggest smile and an extremely happy heart that I announce Anthony Santos has been promoted to Associate Head Coach of Cal State Fullerton men's basketball," Taylor said. "He is the epitome of indispensable and has been the backbone of our success. We couldn't and wouldn't be who we are today without his loyalty, dedication and belief in getting things done our way. He is the essence of #DevelopU and all that it stands for."
Santos helped lead the Titans to the Big West Tournament Championship in 2021-22 and an NCAA Tournament appearance for the fourth time in school history. It is the second time during his tenure that the Titans have made the NCAA Tournament, something no other coaching staff in the history of Cal State Fullerton has accomplished.
Fullerton finished the 2021-22 season with a 21-11 record and an 11-4 record in Big West play, the most overall and conference wins since the 2011-12 season.
Furthermore, Santos has been a part of Taylor's staff that became the first to lead the Titans to two 20+ win seasons and four 10+ winning seasons in conference play.
"I'm incredibly honored to step into this role at Fullerton. I can't express enough thanks and gratitude to Coach Taylor for his faith and trust in me. It is a privilege to work alongside him and help carry out his vision," Santos said. "None of this is possible without the staff, student-athletes, and support staff I have had the pleasure of working with along the way. I am not who I am today without them. I look forward to continuing our successes in helping the program reach new heights."
Santos has been a staple of consistency on the Titans coaching staff, heading into his 13th year with the program and sixth year as a full-time staff member. Santos began his coaching career as a graduate student during the 2010-11 season before becoming the team director of operations in 2012.
In 2017-18, CSF went 20-12 and won the Big West Tournament Championship and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history. Santos helped Kyle Allman Jr. elevate his play to claim multiple honors – All-Big West First Team, Big West Tournament MVP, NABC All-District 9 Second Team as well as being on the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award Watch List.
In 2018-19, the Titans made it to the Big West Tournament Final for the second straight year, the first time that has been accomplished in program history, but were unable to secure the trophy and return to the NCAA Tournament. Fullerton did earn its third consecutive postseason berth, also a program first, as it hosted CSU Bakersfield in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Titans went 16-18 on the year and 10-6 in Big West Conference action to take third place in the standings.
Santos and the 2019-20 Titans had their season cut short just prior to the start of the Big West Tournament due to COVID-19. He helped Jackson Rowe and Brandon Kamga claim Second-Team All-Big West honors while Kamga was also named Big West Newcomer of the Year.
2019-20 Graduating seniors Rowe (France), Davon Clare (Portugal) and Austen Awosika (Austria) each signed professional contracts to play in their respective country's top leagues.
Read Bill Sheehan's feature story on Anthony Santos