Will Kimble, a standout post player earlier in the decade before returning to Pepperdine as an assistant coach, will be in his second season with the Waves in 2009-10.

Prior to his return to Malibu, Kimble was an assistant coach at Citrus College, located in Glendora, Calif., for one season. He helped the Fighting Owls to a 35-1 record and its first-ever state junior college championship in 2007-08.

“First of all I want to thank God, Dr. Andrew Benton, Dr. John Watson and Coach Asbury, as well as everybody in the athletic department at Pepperdine,” said Kimble at his hiring in April 2008. “It feels great to get back to the place where I began my college career, and I felt like this has always been my home. To have the opportunity to come back and contribute to this university, I’m just really, really honored. I take great pride in representing Pepperdine.”

He began his coaching career in 2006-07 as the head varsity boys’ basketball coach at Bethel Temple High School in El Paso, Texas, and led the school to the Texas Christian Athletic League finals.

“I’m ecstatic to have Will join our staff,” said Asbury at Kimble’s hiring. “He comes very highly recommended from many coaches that I’ve talked to. He’s another member of the Pepperdine family and I know that people around here will be excited to have him return.”

Kimble began his college career at Pepperdine and played for the Waves for two seasons. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 1.8 points in 9.3 minutes as a 2000-01 freshman and 5.4 points in 15.7 minutes as a 2001-02 sophomore. The Waves made the NIT in 2001 and the NCAA Tournament in 2002.

He appeared in one game in 2002-03, but was held out of further competition after it was discovered that he had a heart condition. Kimble continued at Pepperdine, staying on as a student assistant during the 2003-04 season, and graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in advertising.

He moved on to Texas-El Paso, where doctors cleared him to return to the basketball court, and Kimble finished his playing career there. He averaged 4.5 points in 15.5 minutes as a 2004-05 junior and 4.9 points in 19.4 minutes as a 2005-06 senior. The Miners made the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and the NIT in 2006.

He earned a master’s degree in education from UTEP in 2006.

Kimble, a native of San Bernardino, Calif., attended Pacific High School.