Following up on reports from earlier today. Here’s the official release from Cal Baptist on the hiring of head basketball coach Kyle Getter:
California Baptist University President Dr. Ronald Ellis has confirmed the hiring of Kyle Getter as the 13th head coach in the history of CBU Men’s Basketball. Getter becomes the second head coach in CBU’s Division I era, and the first to guide the Lancers in the Big West Conference.
“The interest in this position was tremendous,” said Vice President of Athletics, Dr. Micah Parker. “Kyle’s name kept popping up with people I have a deep respect for in men’s basketball. We talked to some outstanding coaches with very impressive resumes. Coach Getter’s experience winning championships and his obvious fit for our mission are both exciting. My team looks forward to helping Kyle continue our winning tradition in men’s basketball.”
Getter makes the move to California following a three-season stint as the Associate Head Coach at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. He takes over a program that finished 25-9 last season and won the WAC Tournament Championship, which earned the program its first March Madness appearance in program history.
CBU will join the Big West Conference next season, ending the program’s eight-year membership in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
“My family and I are thrilled to join the California Baptist community,” said Getter. “I’m grateful to Dr. Ellis and Dr. Parker for entrusting me with the growth and development of CBU basketball and its student athletes. I am extremely excited to get to campus and begin connecting with our players and the campus community. Lance up!”
Before joining the Fighting Irish, Getter spent five seasons under coach Tony Bennett as the Director of Recruiting and Player Development (2018-21) and Assistant Coach (2021-23) for the University of Virginia. His time with the Cavaliers was highlighted in 2019 when Virginia won the NCAA Division I National Championship, an 85-77 victory over Texas Tech. The Cavaliers finished the 2018-19 season 35-3, including a 16-2 run in the ACC.
Virginia won three ACC Regular Season Championships (2019, 2021, 2023) and posted a 64-29 record during Getter’s time on the bench.
Before joining the Virginia staff, Getter spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Liberty. The Flames won 43 games over Getter’s final two seasons in Lynchburg. He was also a member of the Liberty staff during the 2008-09 season, a year that saw Liberty win a then-school-record 23 games.
Getter’s resume also includes four seasons with Radford, where he was part of a Highlanders team that won 44 games, the highest win total over any two years in program history at the time.
He also has experience working with coach Shaka Smart at Virginia Commonwealth University. During his two seasons at VCU, the Rams made history, becoming the first team to reach the Final Four after starting the tournament in the First Four. VCU earned tournament victories over USC, Georgetown, Purdue, Florida State, and Kansas on its run to the Final Four in Houston.
The Rams won 55 games in Getter’s two seasons, which at that time was the highest win total over any two years in VCU history.
Getter also has experience at the NAIA level with Walsh University in Ohio. The Cavaliers went 26-5 in his one season, winning the AMC Championship and advancing to the NAIA Division II Sweet 16.
Other stops in Getter’s career include Marshall, Wright State, and Dayton. While at Dayton, the Flyers finished the 2002-03 season 24-6, winning the A-10 Tournament Championship and ending the year No. 16 in the AP Poll.
A native of Miamisburg, OH, Getter received his undergraduate degree in physical education from Hanover College in 2001. He later earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Dayton in 2004.
