RALEIGH – Director of Operations/Assistant Coach Houston Fancher has announced his retirement from NC State. Fancher has been a part of Wes Moore’s staff for the past eight seasons and he wraps up a 38-year career in the collegiate coaching ranks. Fancher brought in a wealth of basketball experience and insight to the Wolfpack, and was a positive influence to a myriad of aspects of the women’s basketball program.
Fancher was pivotal in the preparation and execution of the practice/scout team, and as director of operations, he performed a lot of behind-the-scenes work to help manage team travel, scheduling and other team logistics.
“I’d like to thank Coach Moore and all of Wolfpack Nation for the opportunity to represent this elite program for the past eight years,” said Fancher. “The journey was as rewarding as it was successful. Thank you to all the players, managers and support staff for making every day a pleasure to come to work. To experience women’s basketball at the absolute highest level with some of the most fantastic people on the planet has left an indelible imprint on my life. Go Pack!”
During Fancher’s tenure in Raleigh, which started ahead of the 2018-19 season, he was a part of the Pack’s three straight ACC Tournament titles (2020, ‘21 and ‘22), two ACC regular season crowns (2022 and ‘25), seven NCAA Tournament appearances, six final top 10 rankings and the historical run to the Final Four in 2024. As an on-court coach for the past three seasons, Fancher helped lead the team to an 80-25 record. Fancher was also a part of five NCAA Sweet 16s and two of the three Elite 8 runs in the program’s history.
“Houston Fancher has been unbelievable over the past eight years,” said Moore. “He’s worn many hats and has been a great asset both on the court and in the office. We’re losing an excellent coach, but also an awesome friend. I’m happy for him and his wife Cathy on his retirement and can never thank him enough for all he has done for the Wolfpack women’s basketball program.”
Fancher joined the Wolfpack after serving three years, 2014-17, on the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball coaching staff.
Prior to his time in Charlotte, Fancher was the head coach of the Appalachian State men’s program for nine seasons and was a member of the coaching staff for the Mountaineers for 13 total seasons. Fancher led his teams to three Southern Conference North Division Championships (2003, ‘07 and ‘08) and was named the 2002-03 Southern Conference Coach of the Year. Additionally, Fancher was a finalist for mid-major National Coach of the Year in 2007 after guiding App State to a school-record 25 wins, the San Juan Shootout title and an NIT berth.
Fancher worked on coaching staffs at Tennessee (2009-13) and UNC Wilmington (2013-14), as well as Maryville College (1988-92) and Vanderbilt (1995-96). He was the head coach at North Greenville from 1992-95.
Fancher earned his undergraduate degree in physical education from Middle Tennessee in 1988 and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial in 1990. Fancher and his wife Cathy have three children - Hayden, Ethan and Cameron.
