Baldwin Wallace University Basketball Superlatives: The Baldwin Wallace University men's basketball program is one of the best in both the Ohio Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III. Just a few of the reasons why...
- Five OAC Regular Season Championships
- Six OAC Tournament Titles, including last season (2018-2019)
- Eight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including last season (2018-2019)
- Seven All-Americans
- 2005-06 Division III Player of the Year Tori Davis
- Three Mike Gregory Award Winners
(Most Oustanding Player in the OAC) - DIII News Men's Basketball Best Player of the 2000's Tori Davis
- Six Academic All-Americans
- 32 First-Team Academic All-OAC selections
- 42 members of the 1,000-point club
Current Seasonal Winning Streak is the Longest in School History: In 2019-2020, the Yellow Jacket program clinched a school-record ninth straight winning season.
Tom Heil Led BW to the 2019 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Title: A year ago, Head Coach Tom Heil led his Yellow Jackets to their six all-time Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title and into the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division III National Tournament. In his first three seasons in Berea, he has led BW to a 70-42 record with one OAC Tournament title and two OAC finals appearances.
Heil returned to BW after serving as the as the head coach at Definace College for one season where he produced a 22-7 record, a conference title and an upset in the first round of the NCAA Division III National tourney against the No.1-ranked team in Div. III.
Coach Heil spent five seasons as the top assistant for BW graduate Duane Sheldon '94. He also served as the men's golf coach nd led it to its first-ever OAC title and NCAA Division III national tourney berth in 2013-2014. For those efforts, Coach Heil was named as the OAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year.
Outstanding Facilities: The Lou Higgins & Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium
The Yellow Jackets play their home games in one of the finest facilities in all of Division III athletics, Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium. The 2,800-seat venue has been home to BW basketball since 1949 and underwent a complete renovation in 1994. Chair back seating and a new media center were constructed while training and physical therapy, laundry and eight locker rooms were added. Other features include a room for news media as well as exhibit and storage areas for the BW Athletic Archives. The Archives give students, alumni, parents, friends and visitors to Baldwin Wallace a glimpse of the rich tradition and heritage of Yellow Jacket teams and athletes.
What Else Does the BW Basketball Student-Athlete Get Besides a Quality Education?
The Baldwin Wallace University basketball program strives for excellence by stressing the development of each student-athlete to his fullest potential. While many valuable lessons can be learned in the classroom and on the court, the ultimate goal is to help each student-athlete grow, mature and graduate from BW.
"Our goal is to help every men's basketball student-athlete grow and mature and become to the best of their talent and ability," said Heil. "We want them to be a strong student and ambassador of BW and its men's basketball program, and that means excelling in the classroom, on the basketball court and in our campus community. The ultimate goal is to provide each young man with the knowledge and ability to be highly successful after graduation."
Radio and Television Coverage
A majority of BW men's basketball games are broadcast LIVE on campus radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM and via the internet at www.wbwc.com. In addition, all home games will be streamed live on the BW Athletics website at www.bwyellowjackets.com with LIVE AUDIO and LIVE STATISTICS.
The Ohio Athletic Conference
Baldwin Wallace University belongs to the 10-team Ohio Athletic Conference for men and women. Long considered one of the finest small college conferences in the nation, the OAC offers competition in 21 NCAA Division III sports. The winner of the annual OAC Tournament earns the OAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
The OAC is the third oldest existing collegiate conference. Founded in 1902, the OAC is predated only by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1888) and the Big Ten (1895).
History
- Steve Bankson Retirement Page
- Yellow Jacket History & Timeline
- Championships & Tournament Appearances
- Tournament History