Wheeling University

WHEELING Cardinals

2018-19 men’s basketball Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School 0 Jarett Haines G 5-11 175 Jr. Bronx, N.Y. 1 Nathan Meriwether G 5-10 170 So. Indianapolis, Ind. 2 Jordan Reid G 6-1 170 Jr. Silver Spring, Md. 3 Alex Humphreys G 5-9 170 Jr. Maryville, Tenn. 5 Zach Collins G 6-2 193 Sr. South Riding, Va. 11 Jay Gentry G 6-1 198 So. Milwaukee, Wisc. 13 Shawn Esajas G 6-2 190 Fr. Tampa, Fla. 14 Nick Barney G 6-2 205 Sr. Midland, Pa. 21 John Korte F 6-6 215 Fr. Watertown, Mass. 22 Bryce Foggin F 6-6 195 So. Naples, Fla. 23 Emmanuel Ansong F 6-4 195 So. Bordentown, N.J. 25 Jeremiah April C 7-0 240 Sr. Phoenix, Ariz. 32 Dozie Enyosiobi F 6-4 185 So. Staten Island, N.Y. 40 Keyon Johnson F 6-7 190 Fr. Sarasota, Fla. / East Bay Head Coach: Will Ryan Graduate Assistant Coaches: Evan Morissey, Nate Hendel

2019-20 Women’s basketball Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown/Previous 0 Alysa Edwards-Frick C 6-0 So. Zanesville, Ohio 1 Maura Castelluci G 5-7 Fr. Bridgeville, Pa. 2 Khira Burton G 5-4 Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio 3 Tori Harrison G 5-5 Jr. Centerville, Ohio 4 Emily Holzopfel G 5-7 Fr. Rayland, Ohio 5 Kelsi Chapman G 5-8 Jr. New Martinsville, W.Va. 11 Iyauna Bonner G 5-3 Fr. Columbus, Ohio 12 Lauren Calhoun C 6-0 Fr. Ravenna, Ohio 14 Lauren Lipscomb G 5-9 Sr. Columbus, Ohio 21 Jillian Hawks G 5-7 Fr. North Canton, Ohio 22 Jacqui Hinesmon G 5-9 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio 23 Hope Bowman F 6-3 Fr. Wellsburg, W.Va. 24 Taliah Cashwell G 5-7 Sr. South Charleston, W.Va. 30 Lilly Ritz F 6-1 So. Cambridge, Ohio Head Coach: Mike Llanas Graduate Assistant Coaches: KeShyra McCarver, Olivia Foudy

In becoming one of the top Division-II men’s basketball conferences in the country, the Mountain East Conference has featured some of the best talent one can find. The rivalries have been fierce, and the stories abundant.

But perhaps one of the more overlooked and underappreciated aspects of the development and growth of the MEC men’s game, is the consistency that has been prevalent in the coaching ranks. The men -- guys like Jim Crutchfield, Jerrod Calhoun and Danny Sancomb among others -- carved their names into the history books of this conference, while at the same time helping their schools and by extension the MEC, become known on the national stage.

But each of those coaches has moved on. And they’re not the only ones. While the MEC has been known for its consistency in that area, the times they are a changing.

Now, West Virginia State’s Bryan Poore (21st season) and Charleston’s Dwaine Osborne (seventh season) are the only bosses in the league who have been in their current positions for more than five seasons. Maybe not so coincidentally, each of their clubs finished near the top of the conference standings during the regular season.

Building a program doesn’t happen overnight. And some, of course, have stepped into better situations than others. But with all that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the new faces.

TIM KOENIG, FAIRMONT STATE: This one might deserve an asterisk, because although this is his first season roaming the Fairmont sideline, Koenig is no stranger to the MEC. In fact, he spent the last six seasons at Notre Dame College, including last year when he was named coach of the year and led the school to a conference tournament championship and NCAA Tournament bid.

WILL RYAN, WHEELING: The sailing hasn’t exactly been smooth but the wins seem to now be blowing in favor of Wheeling, which welcomed Ryan -- its second coach in as many seasons -- late in the game. But he brings a pedigree to the Cardinals bench and has them in the tournament right off the bat.

NICK PATELLA, W.VA. WESLEYAN: Like Koenig, he’s a familiar face in a new place. Patella comes over after spending four seasons at Davis & Elkins and has kept the Bobcats right around the middle of the pack in the conference for most of the season. Patella already has a road upset of league champion West Liberty under his belt.

MARK RICHMOND, NOTRE DAME: When Koenig left, so did consensus All-American Will Vorhees, as well as several other key contributors off that MEC title-winning club. The Falcons, under the direction of the former Youngstown State director of basketball operations, have had some ups and downs, but it’s probably not going to be long before they are back in contention.

DANIEL MONDRAGON, DAVIS & ELKINS: The former head coach and director of player development for the DME Sports Academy, the growth has been a bit harder to come by for the Senators. But with a new gym floor and excitement around the program, things are on the rise.

JOSH GIBSON, URBANA: It’s been somewhat of a revolving door at Urbana, but judging from previous stops one could argue the school has found the man to turn things around on a consistent basis. Last season, Gibson led NAIA Lourdes University (Ohio) to an 18-12 mark after going just 7-22 two seasons prior.

And that’s just the guys who are in their first years at schools. Todd May (fourth year, Concord), Ben Howlett (third year, West Liberty), Justin Caldwell (second year, Glenville State) and Sean Brown (second year, Frostburg State) are all still relative newcomers to the scene.

Some of the more familiar names have left. But everyone should remember that at one time those were also the fresh faces. MEC men’s basketball appears as though it’s in good hands with new, exciting coaches almost across the board.