Sunday, April 20, 2014

James Wilhelmi Named WSSU Interim Men's Head Basketball Coach

James Wilhelmi
Interim Head Men's Basketball Coach
Winston-Salem State University Rams
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Interim Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker, has appointed James Wilhelmi as the Interim Head Coach of the WSSU Men's Basketball Program following Bobby Collins move to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Wilhelmi joined the Rams coaching staff in the summer of 2011 as associate head men's basketball coach under Collins.

"James brings a wealth of experience and a strong knowledge of the game to the WSSU sidelines after several coaching stints," said Walker. "Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in the recruitment and development of several players who have gone on to compete at the professional levels. Coach Wilhelmi has served the WSSU program with passion and integrity. I am confident that he will manage the program in that same manner."

"It is an honor and a blessing to have been chosen to continue to serve WSSU, where we believe in graduating student-athletes and winning championships", says Wilhelmi. "We are continuing to work hard in preparation for another exciting season of Ram basketball".

Prior to WSSU, Wilhelmi had been an assistant coach at the University of North Alabama and spent five seasons at Howard University in Washington, D.C. During his time at Howard, he played an integral role in recruiting some of the top players in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), including a pair of MEAC All-Rookie Team players. He also spent time as an assistant men's basketball coach at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md.

His other coaching stops include the University of Evansville, Texas Southern, the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Hampton, Northeastern Illinois, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. During his time at Evansville, he was the team's offensive coordinator where he guided the Evansville Purple Aces to ranking second in the Missouri Valley Conference in field goal percentage and an upset of a top ten opponent when the team defeated the Creighton Blue Jays, who were led by NBA star Kyle Korver. He also recruited former Texas Southern great Sean Walker, who went on to lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in scoring. Wilhelmi was also instrumental in teams' successes as he helped guide the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore Fighting Hawks to their first winning MEAC record in 10 seasons and helped the Hampton Pirates to a turnaround season that saw the team win nine more games during the 1999-2000 season representing one of the top ten turnarounds for NCAA Division I teams. He also helped guide the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers to an elite eight appearance in the NCAA Division III National Basketball Tournament. Additionally, Wilhelmi spent a year as a head boys' basketball coach at Sussux Central High School in Georgetown, Del.

Wilhelmi is a 1995 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and he earned a Master of Science degree in human development and community resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (1997). He is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and spent several years on the Mid-Major Top 25 voting panel for CollegeInsider.com.

As an athlete, Wilhelmi played high school basketball at La Follette High School in Madison, Wis. and went on to letter in football at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for three years.

"We are prepared to conduct a national search" Walker said. "Realizing this is a time sensitive matter due to recruiting, I am working to post the position to build a quality pool of applicants and we will be prepared to move forward with the process once a permanent director of athletics is named."

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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