Despite another losing season and general pessimism from fans, Fresno State athletics director Garrett Klassy gave a vote of confidence to men’s basketball coach Vance Walberg.

“Vance Walberg is our basketball coach, and he will be for next year, absolutely,” Klassy said, answering a question from GV Wire at a Wednesday news conference.

Fresno State is coming off a 13-19 season, falling in the first round of the Mountain West tournament.

Walberg finished the second year of a three-year deal. His all-time NCAA winning percentage of .292 ranks 354th among 365 active NCAA Division I men’s basketball coaches. Walberg’s record is 19-45 in two seasons at Fresno State and 14-35 in two seasons (2006-08) at Pepperdine.

Next season, Fresno State moves from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12. Perennial power Gonzaga, which qualified for this year’s NCAA tournament, is among the schools joining the conference.

College Economics Hurt Fresno State

Amid falling fan enthusiasm, Walberg has said several times he is handcuffed under the new NIL system, in which teams can pay or arrange for payment of players. Fresno State, Walberg said, cannot compete. Not only are NIL guarantees important to attracting talented players, but they are critical to retaining players who develop their skills and become attractive to rival programs.

Fresno State football also faces the NIL challenge. However, the football program has a positive national identity built upon its long track record of winning, producing future NFL players, and upsetting Power 4 programs. In contrast, men’s basketball hasn’t had a national identity since the glory days of coaches Boyd Grant and Jerry Tarkanian.

Klassy said the economic conditions of modern NCAA sports are not Walberg’s fault.

“Coach Walberg’s issues aren’t Coach Walberg’s. We need to fix the infrastructure in this place,” Klassy said.

Fresno State signed a new media rights and marketing deal with Bulldog Sports Enterprises that should help, Klassy said.

Attendance this past season averaged 4,409 per game at the Save Mart Center, a 4% drop from last season. The arena seats 15,596, and with fans filling just 25% of the seats, the Bulldogs don’t have anywhere close to the homecourt advantage enjoyed by rivals such as Utah State and San Diego State, both of which are also joining the Pac-12.

Klassy acknowledged fans’ opinions.

“I think the fans always have a voice with how they purchase tickets, how they donate to programs. They’re not in my office helping the president and me make decisions. But yes, the fans have a voice, and they always will have a voice moving forward. It’s quite evident,” Klassy said.