Complete OAC Coaches Preseason Poll (.pdf)

BEREA, Ohio -- The Baldwin Wallace University women’s basketball team was picked second and the men sixth in the 2015-2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coaches Preseason poll.

The Yellow Jacket women, 22-7 overall and 14-4 in the OAC a year ago, return 11 letter winners, nine members of its “rotation” and three starters from a team that won the OAC Tournament title and advanced to the Division III National Tournament for the 13th time in Head Coach Cheri Harrer’s career. Harrer  has a 510-186 career mark and has led her team to eight OAC regular season titles and six OAC Tournament crowns. 

In the OAC preseason poll, BW received one first place vote and tied for second with Ohio Northern University with 68 points. Capital University was picked first. The Crusaders received seven first place votes and 79 points.

The BW men have a new coach in first-year mentor Tom Heil. He comes to BW after leading Defiance College to a 22-7 mark a year ago and into the NCAA Division III national tourney.  He takes over for Duane Sheldon ‘94 who led BW to an 18-9 mark last season, including an 11-7 record in the OAC. Two years ago, Heil was Sheldon’s main assistant, so he is very familiar with the BW program. 

Entering the 2015-2016 season, Heil’s team has nine lettermen returning, including two starters.

The Yellow Jacket men open the season on Sunday, November 15 when they travel to Washington, Pennsylvania for a non-conference game against Washington & Jefferson College at 3 p.m.  The BW women open the season on Tuesday, November 17 when they host cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University in the first game of a women's and men's non-conference doubleheader at 6 p.m.