ELON, N.C., April 21 (UPI) -- Long-time former Wake Forest assistant Ernie Nestor Monday was named the new men's basketball coach at Elon College.
He spent the last two winters as an assistant to Dave Odom at South Carolina, after being a member of Odom's staff at Wake Forest the previous eight seasons.
Nestor, 56, has been in college coaching since 1976, and will enter his 28th season when he directs the Phoenix this fall.
His total time at Wake Forest lasted 14 seasons over two separate terms (1979-1985, 1993-2001).
"We are excited to have Ernie Nestor as our head men's basketball coach," said Elon Athletic Director Dr. Alan White. "He is a very knowledgeable, experienced coach, which is what we felt we needed as we head into our new Southern Conference affiliation. Coach Nestor understands our university mission and possesses the personal values and character that make him a good fit for our program and our university. We look forward to our work together."
"He's a perfect addition to Elon," Odom said. "He's one of the great basketball minds in the country. As for him being a head coach again, I knew eventually he would be because he's too good not to be."
Prior to his second stint with Wake Forest, he served George Mason University as its head coach for five years (1988-1993), leading the Patriots to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 1989. That squad won the Colonial Athletic Association title, and finished the year at 20-11. The 1990 squad also reached the 20-victory plateau.
"I am very excited for sure," said Nestor. "The challenge is great, and I am pleased to be coming to Elon. It's a great opportunity for me to be a part of this move to the Southern Conference, which is a very challenging league. We have to compete and excel, and plan our level of work to meet the challenge ahead. Those are the goals of college basketball."
Nestor inherits 10 returning lettermen, including three starters, from last season's 12-15 team, which finished 8-6 in the program's final Big South Conference schedule to snag a share of second place.
In men's basketball, Elon will be a member of the North Division of the Southern Conference along with Appalachian State, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, UNC-Greensboro, and Western Carolina. The College of Charleston, The Citadel, Davidson, Furman, Georgia Southern, and Wofford occupy the South Division.
