Veteran basketball coach Ernie Wheeler will join the team as assistant coach to Ralph Gorton during Allan Hancock College’s upcoming men’s basketball season.
Wheeler was the head coach at Cal Poly for 14 seasons, from 1972 to 1986, and has more than 45 years of experience coaching basketball. At Cal Poly, he holds the record for the most wins of any coach during the school’s history, with an overall record of 254-138.
He led the Mustangs to five consecutive 20-win seasons from 1979 to 1985, and Cal Poly had only one sub-.500 season and averaged 18 wins a year during his time as head coach.
After leaving the Central Coast, Wheeler was the head coach at Eastern Montana College from 1987 to 1991, winning 60 games against 20 losses. He served as the athletic director from 1988 to 1990 and was the executive director of the school’s athletic foundation from 1987 to 1990.
Back on the Central Coast, and living in Arroyo Grande, Wheeler will be on the court with the Bulldogs when their season starts in the fall.
Sports Shorts is compiled by Sports Editor Sarah E. Thien. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2008.