 |
|||
| Days | Hours | Mins | Secs |
|
|||
| Days | Hours | Mins | Secs |
|
"When I came into the ACC as an assistant at Wake Forest, as a long-time high school coach just figuring out what college coaching was all about, something extraordinary happened in this gym," recalled Wainwright. "I was late arriving at the Richmond airport and had carried my bags and left them with a gentleman in the hallway. I was trying to make my way around to the bench where our team was sitting. I took a wrong turn and wound up under the basket just as John Davis took a ball in the low post, turned, and bounce passed it to Johnny Newman. As Johnny came down the lane and dunked, my first experience as an assistant on the road with Wake was the ball bouncing off this floor and hitting me roughly in the chin - in the middle of a 6-0 opening run by the Spiders. "I thought immediately about turning around and leaving, but coach (Bob) Staak had seen me and wanted me to continue sitting next to him and take the same beating he was taking. It was a very humbling experience."
Two years into his reign, Wainwright has continued the winning tradition. Several team and individual accomplishments have highlighted the first few seasons as the Spiders established themselves on the national stage. Jeff Myers (Student-Athlete of the Year in 2002-03) and Tony Dobbins (two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year) joined several others who have been selected for All-Conference, All-Academic and All-Rookie honors. Last winter, Richmond returned to the NCAA Tournament, advancing with its second-ever, at-large berth. An outstanding senior class and the nation's ninth-ranked defense lifted the program to new heights, including a win at #10 Kansas sandwiched between road victories at Temple and Xavier. After a spirited run through the Atlantic 10 Tournament, the Spiders were rewarded for their tough schedule and represented themselves very well against Wisconsin in the NCAA opening round. In Wainwright's first season, the Spiders used a nationally-ranked defense to earn a berth to the NIT. "Last year was a start," Wainwright said, "but I can say without reservation that we are not satisfied. Rather than be satisfied, what I've seen in our kids is their desire to succeed has been increased. Their off-season workouts have been even more determined because they got a taste of what it's all about to play in the NCAAs and they want that taste again." Prior to taking over at Richmond, Wainwright enjoyed a highly successful run as head coach at UNC Wilmington. In eight seasons at UNCW, he compiled a 136-103 (.569) record. The 57-year-old tactician piloted the Seahawks to a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament (2000, 2002) and the National Invitation Tournament (1998, 2001). In addition, he directed the team to its first post-season berth, first 20-win season (1998) and the first win in the NCAA Tournament, a stunning 93-89 triumph over Southern Cal. During his tenure, the team captured three regular season Colonial Athletic Association titles and two CAA tournament crowns. The Seahawks averaged nearly 17 wins per season under his tutelage and were ranked nationally in team defense each campaign. "I was proud to help establish a winning tradition at Wilmington," said Wainwright. "I left a program on the rise. But there was already tremendous tradition here. I have come to a program that is of national significance. "The opportunity to coach in the Atlantic 10 against programs with a national reputation, against Hall of Fame coaches is an incredible challenge, but it gives us an opportunity to be a Top 20 team. The exposure gives us a chance to recruit anybody anywhere. That translates into an incredible opportunity to schedule. Because of the league, the university and the city, our non-conference schedule can be whatever we want to make it." A year after taking over the UNCW program from former Spider great Kevin Eastman in 1994, Wainwright had built the seventh best schedule in the country. The Seahawks suffocating defense was ranked fifth in the nation in 1995-96, allowing just 58.4 points per game. Wainwright orchestrated one of the most memorable campaigns in UNCW history during the 1999-00 season when the Seahawks grabbed their first CAA Championship, a 57-47 win over Richmond, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time. In 2000-01, Wainwright earned CAA Coach-of-the-Year honors for the second time. The Seahawks posted their most impressive season ever in 2001-02, compiling a 22-9 mark, capturing the conference crown outright for the second straight season and advancing to their second NCAA Tournament. His team, again, finished among the nation's best in team defense, ranked 17th in the country. Wainwright himself touched every step on his ascent towards the top of the coaching ladder. Prior to arriving at Wilmington, he spent nine years as an assistant coach at Wake Forest. Under Bob Staak (1986-89) and Dave Odom (1989-94), he helped rebuild the Demon Deacons' program. In Winston-Salem, Wainwright helped Wake Forest collect a school-record four straight NCAA Tournament berths and register back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in a decade. Besides on-the-court coaching, he assisted in recruiting NBA draft picks Chris King (Seattle), Rodney Rogers (Denver), Randolph Childress (Detroit) and Tim Duncan (San Antonio). He broke into the college coaching ranks in 1984-85 serving a one-year stint at Xavier under Staak. "Jerry is uniquely qualified to continue the great tradition of Richmond Spider basketball," said Odom, now head coach at South Carolina. "He is a great teacher of the game and a wonderful role model and mentor for his players. He appreciates and supports the importance of the proper balance between academics and athletics and will immediately work hard to establish a relationship between his administration, faculty and students as well as the Spider faithful. Jerry is the perfect choice." A 1968 graduate of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo. with a B.A degree, Wainwright earned his graduate degree from the University of Denver. Wainwright began his coaching career in the prep ranks first at Montrose High School in Denver where he led his team to the state tournament and was named Colorado District Coach-of-the-Year in 1975. He returned to his native state, Illinois, as an assistant coach at East Leyden High School in suburban Chicago. While there, he helped teams compile an amazing 104-4 four-year record. Wainwright also coached at Chicago's Highland Park High School, directing his team to the state's "Sweet 16" in 1982. He was named state district Coach-of-the-Year his last two seasons. A native of Berwyn, Ill., Wainwright is married to the former Debbie Tedesco. Wainwright has two sons, Brett (32) and Scott (28). In addition, he is the grandfather of two, Alexis and Brett. Entering his third season, Wainwright's focus remains unchanged. "I have had the same three goals since I started coaching - win the regular season title, win the conference tournament title, and advance past the first round of the NCAA's." Wainwright's Career Highlights 2004-05 Highlights Jerry Wainwright's Head Coaching Record Season Overall Pct. Conference Overall Highlights 1994-95 16-11 .593 10-5 .667 Second place in CAA 1995-96 13-16 .448 11-8 .578 5th nationally in team defense 1996-97 16-14 .533 11-7 .611 Tied for CAA regular season title 1997-98 20-11 .645 15-4 .789 First 20-win season, first NIT bid 1998-99 11-17 .393 10-8 .556 Three home sellouts 1999-00 18-13 .580 11-8 .579 CAA Championship, first NCAA berth 2000-01 19-11 .633 12-6 .667 Second NIT appearance 2001-02 23-10 .697 17-4 .809 CAA Championship; Second NCAA berth 2002-03 16-13 .552 10-6 .625 NIT 2003-04 20-13 .606 10-6 .625 NCAA 10 Seasons 172-129 .571 117-64 .654 |
Spiders Fall To Hot-Shooting Ford Burgos 
|
|||||||||||||
Jerry Wainwright vividly remembers the first time he stepped foot in the Robins Center. He almost did an abrupt about-face.
Seventeen years later, Wainwright again walked across the Spiders' court. Newman's presence was still there - his retired jersey swaying from the ceiling. It would be another humbling experience, but this time there was a standing ovation and no thoughts of turning back. On April 24, 2002, Jerry Wainwright was introduced as Richmond's 12th head men's basketball coach.
