2012-13 Men's Basketball - Ohio Wesleyan University

2012-13 OWU Men’s Basketball
Battling
Bishops
Coach Mike DeWitt
Mike DeWitt returns for his 14th
season as men’s basketball coach at
Ohio Wesleyan University having
achieved the goal of returning the
Battling Bishops to championship
contention in the North Coast Athletic
Conference.
Last season, Ohio Wesleyan tied
for third place in the NCAC, finishing
with an 11-5 conference record and
a 20-8 overall mark, and received an
at-large berth in the NCAA Division
III tournament, the Bishops’ second
NCAA appearance under DeWitt.
In 2011, Ohio Wesleyan tied for
third place in the NCAC, finishing
with an 11-5 conference record and
a 16-11 overall mark. DeWitt was
named NCAC Coach of the Year by his
colleagues, marking the second time
he has received that honor.
The 2008-09 Bishops finished in
second place in the NCAC, compiling
an overall record of 17-8.
In 2008, Ohio Wesleyan tied
for second place in the NCAC, then
went on to win the NCAC tournament
championship for the first time
since 1988. The Bishops defeated
Heidelberg and fourth-ranked Centre
in the NCAA Division III playoffs to
advance to the sectional semifinals,
or “Sweet 16,” before finishing with
a 22-8 record. Ohio Wesleyan swept
Wittenberg during the regular season,
the Bishops’ first season sweep of the
Tigers since 1949-50. DeWitt was
named Great Lakes District Coach of
the Year by the National Association
of Basketball Coaches in recognition
of the Bishops’ accomplishments.
In 2006-07, the Battling Bishops
went 18-10 and finished third in the
NCAC, then defeated Wittenberg to
advance to the NCAC tournament
championship game.
The 2005-06 Bishops went 18-9
and finished third in the NCAC. Ohio
Wesleyan finished off the regular season
with a win over then-top-ranked
Wooster, helping DeWitt receive his
first NCAC Coach of the Year citation.
In 2003-04, DeWitt guided the
Bishops to a 19-8 record and a thirdplace
finish in the NCAC standings.
The 19 wins represented the fourthhighest
season total in school history.
Ohio Wesleyan finished with a 12-15
record and a fourth-place finish in the
NCAC in 2001-02. That came on the
heels of a third-place tie in the NCAC
in 2000-01 season, Ohio Wesleyan’s
DEWITT’S CAREER COACHING RECORD
Year School Record Pct
1994-95 Hiram 6-19 .240
1995-96 Hiram 9-16 .360
Hiram Totals (2 years) 15-35 .300
1996-97 Centre 8-17 .320
1997-98 Centre 15-10 .600
1998-99 Centre 12-13 .480
Centre Totals (3 years) 35-40 .467
1999-2000 Ohio Wesleyan 5-20 .200
2000-01 Ohio Wesleyan 11-15 .423
2001-02 Ohio Wesleyan 12-15 .444
2002-03 Ohio Wesleyan 12-14 .462
2003-04 Ohio Wesleyan 19- 8 .704
2004-05 Ohio Wesleyan 12-14 .462
2005-06 Ohio Wesleyan 18- 9 .667
2006-07 Ohio Wesleyan 18-10 .643
2007-08 Ohio Wesleyan 22- 8 .733
2008-09 Ohio Wesleyan 17- 8 .680
2009-10 Ohio Wesleyan 13-14 .481
2010-11 Ohio Wesleyan 16-11 .593
2011-12 Ohio Wesleyan 20- 8 .714
Ohio Wesleyan Totals (13 years) 195-154 .559
CAREER TOTALS (18 YEARS) 245-229 .517
highest league finish since 1992 and
the most league wins (10) for the Bishops
since 1994.
A 1987 Ohio Wesleyan graduate,
DeWitt is only the fourth Ohio Wesleyan
men’s basketball coach in 65
years, following Bob Strimer (1946-58),
Frank Shannon (1958-79) and Gene
Mehaffey (1979-99). He is the first Ohio
Wesleyan alumnus to hold the position
since Branch Rickey’s last season as
the Bishop basketball coach in 1908-09.
DeWitt came to Ohio Wesleyan
from Centre (Ky.) College. During his 3
seasons at Centre, DeWitt’s teams compiled
a record of 35-40. The Colonels
went 12-13 during the 1998-99 season
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