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Meet the Coach
Brian Walmsley
Head Coach
Entering his 11th season as head coach of the Wheaton men's basketball program, Brian Walmsley has compiled a 157-116 record in his tenure. Walmsley captured his 150th coaching victory at the school against Endicott College on December 9, 2006.
In 2006-07, the Lyons reached the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament semifinal round for the eighth time in nine seasons. Walmsley led the 2005-06 team to the program's second straight Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament championship, finishing 19-10 while appearing in its fourth straight ECAC Tournament under Walmsley.
Walmsley has strung together six of Wheaton's top seven single-season victory totals in the 18-year history of the program. In 1999-2000, the Lyons captured their first NEWMAC regular season championship with a 16-9 overall record and 9-3 league mark. In his tenure at Wheaton, Walmsley has witnessed six 16-plus win seasons and six ECAC Tournament bids.
Away from his coaching responsibilities, Walmsley serves on the NCAA Tournament regional selection committee. He has also directed the Basketball Dimensions summer camp at Wheaton since 1998. A former assistant director of the Rising Star Basketball School in Waltham, Walmsley traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1997, where he was co-director of the adidas-Israel Basketball Camp.
Before coming to Wheaton, Walmsley served as an assistant basketball coach at the Division I and II levels for nine years. He spent six years with Harvard University as an assistant for men's basketball and also served as director of athletic promotions. At Harvard, Walmsley played a significant role in helping guide the team to its most successful season in 51 years, as the 1996-97 squad went 17-9 and tied for the runner-up spot in the Ivy League.
A 1988 Bentley College graduate with a bachelor's degree in finance, Walmsley began his coaching career at his alma mater, where he was assistant coach, head junior varsity coach and director of summer camps during a three-year tenure. As an undergraduate at Bentley, Walmsley was a team captain and most valuable player, and the school's Outstanding Senior Male Athlete.
The Walmsley File
| Year | Overall | League | Highlight(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 12-13 | n/a | -- |
| 1998-99 | 17-10 | 8-4 | ECAC Tournament |
| 1999-00 | 16-9 | 9-3 | ECAC Tournament |
| 2000-01 | 12-14 | 6-6 | NEWMAC Tournament |
| 2001-02 | 13-14 | 4-8 | NEWMAC Tournament |
| 2002-03 | 19-10 | 6-6 | ECAC Tournament |
| 2003-04 | 17-12 | 6-6 | ECAC Tournament |
| 2004-05 | 21-9 | 7-5 | ECAC Champs |
| 2005-06 | 19-10 | 6-6 | ECAC Champs |
| 2006-07 | 11-15 | 3-9 | NEWMAC Tournament |
| Totals | 157-116 | 55-53 | 10 Seasons |
Jon Gibbs
Assistant Coach
Already an experienced coach and camp counselor, Gibbs joined the Wheaton men's basketball staff prior to the start of the 2005-06 season. Gibbs helped lead the Lyons to an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament championship and 19-10 record in his first year.
Gibbs served as Rhode Island College's top assistant in 2004-05, helping the Anchormen take home their first Little East Conference (LEC) regular season crown and post 20 wins for the first time since 1988-89. Rhode Island College qualified for its first ECAC Tournament since the 1996-97 season and had not advanced to the title game since 1982-83.
Prior to entering the collegiate ranks, Gibbs was a volunteer assistant coach with the Ithaca High School junior varsity boys team in Ithaca, New York during the 2003-04 season. Gibbs also served as a boys coach at the Massachusetts Bay State Games in 2004 for 11th- and 12th-grade boys.
Gibbs brings a wealth of experience after working at numerous basketball camps. He has coached at the University of Rhode Island camp the last five years in addition to working camps at Wheaton, Bentley College, Boston College, Community College of Rhode Island, Providence College, Rider University, Stonehill College and Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro.
A native of Cumberland, Rhode Island, Gibbs attended both Cumberland High School and Bishop Feehan before playing two years for the Ithaca College basketball team from 2000-02. In May 2004, Gibbs received a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Ithaca.
Bill Black
Assistant Coach
Bill Black returns to the Wheaton coaching staff for his second season with the Lyons.
Prior to Wheaton, Black spent two seasons on the Rhode Island College staff, where he taught on-court skills and was heavily involved with recruiting and scouting efforts. One of his responsibilities at RIC included preparing scouting reports of upcoming opponents.
This past summer, Black was an instructor at numerous camps, including Wheaton's Basketball Dimensions, the Hoop Mountain Basketball Camp and camps at Providence College and the University of Rhode Island.
A 1998 graduate of Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, Black completed his master's degree in teaching at RIC in December 2005.
This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 5/20/08.
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NEWMAC Tournament
1-Mar Coast Guard 68, Wheaton 56
27-Feb Wheaton 78, Clark 74
Regular Season
23-Feb Clark 92, Wheaton 90
