FRED LITZENBERGER  • HEAD COACH

Coach Fred Litzenberger is back for his third season in charge of Vanguard University’s men’s basketball program. "Coach Litz" and the Lions are coming off a 20-10 season in 2007-08 and are expecting another strong season in 2008-09. Litzenberger has accumulated a 27-32 overall record at Vanguard since serving as VU’s Associate Head Coach in 2005-06 when he helped take the program to its first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 1990. Following a strong recruiting year, the Lions are shooting for their second playoff berth in a row.

Litzenberger, who spent ten years at the University of Oregon prior to coming to Vanguard, is a teacher of the game and brings a very high-energy presence to the court, always looking to make team improvements. He will continue his detailed coaching style as he returns to the sidelines for a third season as Vanguard’s head coach.

Litzenberger’s coaching resume’ spans over 35 years at nearly every level of the game, including over 20 years working with NCAA Division I basketball programs. As an assistant coach with the Oregon Ducks, "Coach Litz" worked six years with the women’s program and the final four seasons with Oregon’s men’s team. During that span, the Ducks won three Pac-10 titles and advanced to the postseason nine times. Known as a defensive guru, Coach Litzenberger has been an assistant at Colorado State, Fresno State, and University of Miami, in addition to Oregon. He also has over a decade of head coaching experience at the collegiate, army, and high school levels.

Litzenberger attained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physical Education at the University of Northern Colorado, and was a three-year letter winner at UNC. He has been heavily involved in teaching basketball skills and fundamentals in camp and clinic settings over the years, and has produced books and videos on basketball fundamentals that are sold throughout the world. "Coach Litz" can be reached via e-mail at flitzenberger@vanguard.edu or by phone at (714)556-3610, extension 2350.

"Vanguard is a great place because of the people," says Litzenberger. "We have a great faculty and staff that care about educating young people academically and spiritually."

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WALT SIMON  • ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH

Walt returns to Vanguard for his sixth season with VU’s men’s basketball program and his third as the Associate Head Coach. Simon joined the Lions during the summer of 2003 and has been a big part of the coaching staff for the last four years. Simon’s duties include working with the perimeter players, recruiting, scouting, and other behind the scene duties for the Lions. He has devoted many hours of work and commitment to the players and the program during his time with the Lions. An energetic and enthusiastic aid, he brings great basketball credentials and connections as a player and coach to the Lions. Following an extensive illness last year, Simon has returned healthy to the team and is ready to rejoin the program full force.

Simon graduated from and achieved All-State and All-American honors at Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles, before moving on to Fullerton College. He was a two-time JC State Player of the Year, and holds the two-year California Total State Scoring Record. After FC, Coach Simon received a scholarship to the University of Utah where he averaged 15 points per game and was an All-League player. In 1968, he was drafted into professional basketball by the Seattle Sonics of the NBA, and the Denver Rockets of the ABA.

Simon’s coaching experiences include working with youth basketball, high school, junior college, NCAA Division I, and professionally in America and Europe. At the college level, he has worked for Fresno State, CSU Fullerton, and Fullerton College, and has also helped at Mater Dei High School and with AAU Basketball. In the mid 1970’s, Simon was the Head Coach for a European professional team. In addition, he is the founder of Basic Basketball School where he and other instructors work to develop players’ basketball skills and their knowledge of the game.

Coach Simon earned an Associate of Arts degree from Fullerton College and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education at CSU Fullerton in 1973. He worked for the Orange County Probation Department for 27 years as a youth counselor and supervisor, and has taught at the high school and collegiate level. Simon’s overall background and attitude makes him a good fit for the Vanguard University Lions.

"Vanguard is a quality university with great support and great people."

Walt is married to Su Jin and has two grown children, Charisse and Miles. The Simons reside in Laguna Niguel. Walt can be reached via e-mail at wsimon@vanguard.edu or by phone at (714)556-3610, extension 2351.

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AUSTIN HENKEN   •   ASSISTANT COACH

Austin is a hard-working young coach who is back for his third season as an assistant coach at his alma mater. Sharing a passion for the game and the Vanguard vision, Henken began his collegiate coaching career under the leadership of a veteran coaching staff and continues to learn on the job at VUSC. Austin will focus the majority of his efforts in practice on preparing the post players for the Lions. In addition, Henken will assist in daily organization, scouting, and recruiting, as well as off-season workout planning.

Henken has been coaching basketball for 11 years at different levels, including three years with the varsity team at Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana. Currently the Boys High School Club Director for So Cal Swoosh, Henken also brings in experience from working with National Junior Basketball program in Southern California.

Austin graduated from Vanguard in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Sports Science with an emphasis on Teaching and Coaching and is happy to be back with the blue and gold. He is currently finishing his master’s degree at Concordia University.

"I love the sense of community that I feel at VU," Henken comments. "I’m excited to see how our returning leaders will impact our team and the school."

Austin and his wife Alison live in Costa Mesa.

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 IGOR KOROLEV   •   ASSISTANT COACH

Igor begins his third season as an assistant coach with the Lions. Moving to America three years ago, the Russian-born Korolev earned his diploma from the Russian State Academy of Physical Education in Moscow in 1997. He was the head coach for the Russian U18 National Team in 2004 and 2005 and directed the team to a sixth and fifth place finish, respectively, at the U18 European Championships.

As a player, Igor also competed for the Russian National Team, earning a Silver Medal in 1981. He and his wife Svetlana have two grown children, including his son Yaroslav who plays professional basketball. Igor and his family live in Manhattan Beach.

"I would like to have more experience in American college basketball and I hope to help the Lions," Korolev says.

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 LEVI SEEKINS   •   ASSISTANT COACH

Levi is back for his second season as an assistant for the Vanguard Lions men’s basketball program, although he has remained in contact with the program since his graduation from VUSC in 2006. Returning to California after playing professionally for the Griffith Demons in Australia, Seekins will be the strength and conditioning coach for the Lions.

Seekins began his collegiate coaching career last year after a four-year playing career with the Lions, where he developed as a person and as a player, finishing with an amazing senior season that included Vanguard Male Athlete of the Year and VU Male Champions of Character honors. He brings the same work ethic, desire, and dedication on the court in his coaching role. Seekins will focus on fitness and strength and individual player development, primarily in settings outside practice and games.

Seekins left the Vanguard team in the middle of the year last year to assume a player/coach position with the Griffith Demons in the Australian League. Primarily a forward, Seekins was an overall force for the Demons, scoring a season-high 37 points against the Bathurst Goldminers. He returned to his alma mater in the off-season and will also be serving VU as Director of Intramurals.

Back in college, Seekins earned a spot on Vanguard’s team as a freshman from Washington, walking on to the team because of his unbelievable work ethic and passion for competition and the game of basketball. His playing time increased as he developed as a player, earning valuable minutes off the bench as a sophomore and working his way into a part-time starting position as a junior. By his third season, Levi’s numbers had picked up and he ended his junior season as VU’s third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. Although things looked bright for his senior year, no one could truly have predicted the change in his role for the Lions, as the senior team captain bounced from a half-time starter with 10 points per game to Vanguard’s go-to guy for most of his senior year. Seekins led the team in points (16.2 ppg) and rebounds (5.2 rpg) while helping charge the team to a third-place finish in the GSAC and the program’s first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 1990. Primarily focusing on defense and rebounding his first three seasons, Seekins became one of VU’s main offensive weapons from three-point distance or in the paint, leading the Lions to a 20-13 record. For his efforts, Seekins became an All-GSAC player and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.

Seekins is single and lives in Costa Mesa.

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