[1][2] Abegglen was head coach of the Weber State Wildcats team from 1991 to 1999 and at the University of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves from 1986 to 1991.
At Weber State, he led the Wildcats to an upset of North Carolina in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament.
As of the end of the 2019–20 season, Abegglen is the only coach since the NCAA eliminated first-round byes in 1980 to defeat the Tar Heels in the first round.
Even after the Wildcats upset North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament, Thompson would not consider allowing Abegglen to return for the 1999–2000 season.
His tenure at UAA was highlighted by a 1989 win over the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines, 70–66.