Ernie Nestor

Ernie Nestor
Biographical details
Born (1946-08-19) August 19, 1946 (age 78)
Playing career
1968Alderson–Broaddus
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1970–1976John D. Bassett HS
1976–1979James Madison (assistant)
1979–1985Wake Forest (assistant)
1985–1988California (assistant)
1988–1993George Mason
1993–2001Wake Forest (assistant)
2001–2003South Carolina (assistant)
2003–2009Elon
2009–2010New Jersey Nets (scout)
2010–2011Penn State (assistant)
2011–2012Missouri (assistant)
2012–2017Navy (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall135–198
Tournaments0–1 (NCAA Division I)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
CAA tournament (1989)
SoCon North Division (2006)
Awards
SoCon Coach of the Year (2006)[1]

Ernie Nestor (born August 19, 1946[1][2]) is an American college basketball coach, formally an assistant coach at the University of Missouri. Head coach Frank Haith named Nestor to this post in April, 2011.[3] He was formerly the head coach of the Elon University and George Mason men's basketball teams.[4] Nestor, a native of Philippi, West Virginia,[1][2] was a long-time assistant at Wake Forest University, including an eight-year stint for head coach Dave Odom. He has also been on the coaching staffs of California, James Madison and South Carolina during his career.[3]

Nestor began his head coaching career at John D. Bassett High School in Bassett, Virginia, where he coached from 1970 to 1976.[5] For 14 seasons (1979–1985, 1993–2001) Nestor served as a Wake Forest assistant; Odom was the head coach during his second of two stints.[3][6] The Demon Deacons won two Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament titles (1995 and 1996),[6] and reached the final eight of the 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in his time there.[3] In addition, the team won the National Invitation Tournament in 2000.[6] The U.S. 1996 William Jones Cup team was coached by Nestor.[1][3]

From May 12, 1988[7] to March 8, 1993,[8] Nestor was head coach at George Mason University.[4][6]

In 1989, George Mason gained an NCAA Tournament berth under Nestor by winning the Colonial Athletic Association's postseason tournament; it was the first NCAA Tournament participation for the program.[9] After losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Indiana, the Patriots finished the year 20–11.[10] The 1990 team also reached the 20-victory plateau.[11] He resigned after five years and a 68–81 record at George Mason before joining Odom on his staff at Wake Forest in 1993.[6][12]

Nestor's 2008 Elon team, the seventh seed in the Southern Conference postseason tournament, made it to the finals, where Davidson defeated them.[3][4] In 2009, he resigned (or was fired[13]) after six seasons at the helm for Elon.[4] He served as a scout for the NBA's New Jersey Nets from 2009 to 2010 before returning to the college ranks as Director of Basketball Operations for Penn State for the 2010–11 season.[14]

After one season, Nestor left the Missouri program[15] to take an assistant coaching position at Navy.[16]

  1. ^ a b c d "Ernie Nestor Profile - Penn State University Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on 2011-08-22. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  2. ^ a b "Ernie Nestor Profile - MUTIGERS.COM - The University of Missouri Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Nestor Takes Post Of Nittany Lion Basketball Director of Operations". WGAL. 2010-06-29. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  4. ^ a b c d Ernie Nestor done after six seasons as Elon Phoenix coach - ESPN
  5. ^ Ernie Nestor Profile - South Carolina Official Athletic Site
  6. ^ a b c d e "Elon hires ex-Wake coach Nestor". CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. 2003-04-21. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  7. ^ "George Mason names Nestor basketball boss". Lawrence Journal-World. Associated Press. 1988-05-13. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  8. ^ "George Mason gets new coach". The Prescott Courier. Associated Press. 1993-04-06. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  9. ^ Macenka, Joe (1989-03-07). "Patriots celebrate NCAA berth". The Free Lance–Star. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-09-30.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Herrera, Pete (1989-03-18). "Fishing buddies clashing". The Lewiston Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  11. ^ Macenka, Joe (1990-03-05). "Blair rescues Spiders; Dukes thwart Patriots". The Free Lance–Star. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-09-30.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Sports Briefs". The Daily Record. Associated Press. 1993-04-05. Retrieved 2010-09-30.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Elon Phoenix hire Davidson Wildcats assistant Matt Matheny as coach - ESPN
  14. ^ "Former Elon coach takes Penn State position | elon, state, ernie - Sports - Burlington Times News". Archived from the original on 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2012-05-30.
  15. ^ MU basketball assistant coach leaves
  16. ^ "MU hoops assistant leaves for Auburn : Sports : ConnectMidMissouri.com". Archived from the original on 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2012-07-29.