IRVINE, Calif. – The last few days have been quite the whirlwind for former Concordia University Irvine men's basketball player and assistant coach Chris Victor.

After taking over as the interim men's basketball coach at NCAA DI Seattle University this past November, the former CUI Eagle was promoted to head coach last week after leading Seattle to an impressive 23-8 record and a 14-4 mark in the WAC.

Under his guidance, the Redhawks won the WAC regular season title and were the only team to land multiple players on the First Team All-WAC squad.

Victor was also recognized by the conference and named WAC Coach of the Year for the tremendous job he and the entire group did during an uncertain time in the program.

His success and his team's success come as no surprise to his former coach and mentor.

"Chris was the first recruit I signed here at Concordia," said CUI head coach Ken Ammann, who has led the Eagles for the past two decades.  "He was also our starting point guard in back-to-back title games in 2003 and 2004. I couldn't be more proud of him and he is very deserving of this opportunity."

Victor helped Concordia win its first NAIA National Championship in men's basketball in that special 2002-03 season. It was the first of two banners the Eagles have raised during Coach Ammann's tenure.

After serving as Ammann's top assistant for four years after graduation, Victor went on to coach at Citrus College and Eastern Washington before joining the staff at Seattle as an assistant.  His teams at Citrus won over 100 games during his time there.

Victor is part of a long line of former CUI players and assistant coaches who have flourished both during their time in Irvine and in their future destinations.

 
Justin Bell (former CUI assistant) - current head coach at Santa Margarita Catholic HS and was assistant coach and also interim head coach at D1 UC Riverside.  
 
Brandon Billups (former CUI assistant) - current D1 assistant Cal State Northridge
 
Gerald Brown (former CUI assistant) - current assistant coach at D1 Pepperdine
 
Rick Croy (former CUI assistant)- current head coach at D1 CBU – also served as assistant coach at D1 UC Riverside and St. Mary's and was head coach at Citrus College.  
 
Jeremy Groth (former CUI player and assistant) - current head coach Spokane Community College
 
Patrick Johnson (former CUI assistant) - Played at Duke - former head coach Citrus College - current head coach and Ath Director at Midtown HS in Atlanta GA
 
Nate Klitzing (former CUI player) - current head coach Crean Lutheran HS - his team is going to state regional final after winning this past Saturday
 
Brett Lauer (former CUI assistant) - current head coach at Citrus College and former D1 assistant at UC Riverside. Citrus College won this past weekend and is heading to CA State JC Final 8.
 
Ryan Schachter (former CUI player) - head coach Costa Mesa HS and CDM HS
 
Rhett Soliday (former CUI player and assistant) - current head coach Vanguard University and former Athletic Director at Vanguard. He was also previously assistant coach at D1 UC Irvine.