Nelson Whitmore, who is beginning
his sixth season as head men’s basketball coach at Hamline University, now has
a little more work on his plate. Whitmore has added the title of Assistant
Athletic Director to his duties. Jason Verdugo, HU Athletic
Director, made the announcement today. “Nelson is one of the sharpest minds
around,” he said. “He has done a terrific job in molding the men’s basketball
team into a consistent winning program. He has been an Assistant AD before and
will serve as a great aid as we continue in rebuilding our athletic programs.”
Whitmore’s
main emphasis will be with development. He will assist Verdugo in the
department’s fundraising efforts as well working with corporate sponsorships.
Whitmore spent ten years as Assistant Athletic Director for The College at
Brockport, State University of New York from 1997-2007. During that time he
served as home event manager, facilities coordinator, and director of athletic
travel for all twenty-one athletic teams.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work
closely with our prestigious alumni and corporate sponsors,” Whitmore said. “As the Assistant Athletic Director of
Development, I look forward to enhancing our student-athletes’ experience here
at Hamline.” A
1992 graduate of St. John Fisher College, Whitmore has been coaching NCAA DIII basketball
for the past two decades. Prior to coming to Hamline, he spent nine years as
the head coach at SUNY Brockport (NY). His teams made eight straight
post-season appearances, winning at least one game every time.
Whitmore’s
teams were State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) regular
season champions in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2007. They added SUNYAC tournament
titles in 2001 and 2002. The Golden Eagles advanced to the Elite Eight of the
NCAA Division III basketball tournament in 2002 and 2007 as well as Sweet
Sixteen appearances in the 2001 and 2004 seasons. For these accomplishments
Whitmore was named SUNYAC coach of the year in 2000, 2002, and 2004.
When
he moved to Hamline, Whitmore inherited a program that had not had a winning
season in 14 seasons. Two years later, he had the Pipers in the MIAC basketball
playoffs. The next season in 2010-2011, the team won 16 games and hosted a
playoff game for the first time in a quarter of a century. When the Pipers went
13-12 last season, it marked their third straight season over .500, the first
time that has happened in the past twenty-six seasons.
In
the past five years, Whitmore has coached six All-MIAC, three All-MIAC
Honorable Mention, and six All-MIAC First Year players. Some of these players
include: Tony Thrasher, a 2009
Josten’s national player of the year finalist; Ray Brown, the 2010 College Sporting News MIAC co-MVP; Carl Hipp, a 2011 NABC 2nd
team All-American and MIAC player of the year; and most recently, Mike Campbell, a two-time All-MIAC
selection.