Wright State Offseason News Update
by Nick Dettmann
Biancardi Named New Head Coach
After six years as the Associate head coach at Ohio State, Paul Biancardi was selected as the new head coach for the Wright State Raiders.
Biancardi replaces Ed Schilling, who in six seasons, went 75-93. Last season, the Raiders went 10-18 and finished sixth in the Horizon League.
Biancardi will be separated from current Buckeyes coach Jim O’Brien, who he had been with for over 13 seasons with Ohio State and Boston College.
“Paul emerged from a terrific pool of applicants,” Michael Cusack, Wright State Director of Athletics, said. “His coaching experience at two outstanding institutions and working under one of the most respected coaches in the country made him a front runner. His personal characteristics, his vision and the high regard he commanded from coaches throughout the state set him apart. We are very excited and proud to have Paul become a member of the Raider family.”
Under O’Brien, Biancardi held numerous responsibilities both on and off the court. His coaching duties included the day-to-day practice schedule, game plan strategies and directing front court players and acted as the recruiting coordinator.
A mentor and loyal friend of 13 years, was nearly at a loss for words when he learned that his right-hand man was leaving.
“I receive the news of Paul Biancardi’s hiring at Wright State with mixed emotions,” O’Brien said. “On one hand, I am thrilled with the opportunity afforded to Paul-one he has worked very hard for and one he so richly deserves. On the other hand, I am saddened with the departure of someone who has been so loyal and who has worked so hard toward the success of our programs here at Ohio State and at Boston College.”
Biancardi is a 1985 graduate of Salem State University with a degree in physical education. He was a four-year basketball letterman and team captain as a senior. He was awarded the James Towhig Award for outstanding contributions, character and sportsmanship after his senior season.
Biancardi not wasting time
Not even been on the job for three weeks, Wright State head coach Paul Biancardi hired three assistant coaches: Larry Greer, Brian Donoher and Ed Huckaby.
“As a head coach, it is imperative to the success of any program to hire a stellar staff and, as a former assistant, I know the selection of the staff is vital,” Biancardi said. “These individuals will obviously be essential in the rebuilding process. They bring many years of coaching experience and success at the collegiate level. I feel fortunate to be able to hire these coaches who are not only outstanding in their profession but also have high values and will be excellent role models for our student-athletes.”
Greer had been an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator at one of Biancardi’s old rivals, Boston University, since 1994. His duties included all of the duties in recruiting, academic progress, NCAA issues, game scheduling and summer camps.
Greer’s played for Northeastern University and was its team captain. He graduated from Northeastern in 1989.
Huckaby arrives at Wright State from Hampton University where he served as the associate head coach since 1998. At Hampton, he was in charge of recruiting and helped lead the Pirates to MEAC Championships in 2001 and 2002.
Before Hampton, he served as an assistant coach at Owens (Ohio) Community College and Toledo (Ohio) Scott High School. During his three years at Owens, they posted an absurd 87-13 record.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo.
Donoher, son of former University of Dayton coach Don Donoher, was an assistant coach with the University of Akron Zips since 2000. He has also coached at Stetson and Miami during the 1990’s.
Donoher graduated from Dayton in 1992 and worked closely with the Zips’ recruiting as well as practice and game coaching.
Former coach inducted into Raider Hall of Fame
Legendary coach Ralph Underhill was part of a five-person class inducted into Wright State’s Athletic Hall of Fame at a banquet on June 6.
Among the other inductees was former baseball player Alfredo Batista, women’s basketball coach Pat Davis, tennis player Dave McSemek and golfer John Traugh.
“This is a special class of inductees,” Mike Cusack, WSU Director of Athletics, said. “Three of them were here when I came to Wright State in 1982 and all of them have made a tremendous impact on the Raider family.”
Underhill led the Raiders from 1978 to 1996, posting a 356-162 record during his tenure. He led Wright State to seven Division II NCAA Tournaments and one Division I Tournament.
He was named the National Coach of the Year in 1983 when the Raiders captured the NCAA Division II National title. Underhill averaged nearly 20 wins a season. He was also named the Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986 and won the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament in 1993. Seven players were named All-Americans during his tenure.
Biancardi rounds out staff
It took less than two months for head coach Paul Biancardi to make-up his coaching staff for the upcoming season.
On May 28, he named Kyle Getter, a former graduate manager at the University of Dayton and an assistant coach at Hanover College, as the Wright State University Director of Basketball Operations.
Getter worked last year for the Dayton men’s basketball team. He graduated from Hanover in Indiana in 2001 where he was a student assistant from 1999-2001 and an assistant coach during the 2001-02 season. While at Hanover, he helped direct them to a 60-18 record during his three years.
His playing experience includes two seasons at Centre College in Kentucky.
“Kyle is a bright and energetic person,” Biancardi said. “We have been impressed by his persistence and work ethic. He will be a perfect compliment to our staff.”
Getter’s prime responsibility will be to oversee the day-to-day operations within the men’s basketball program.
Former Buckeye follows former coach
Zach Williams, a three-year starter with the Ohio State Buckeyes, has decided to follow one of his former coaches, Paul Biancardi, and transfer to Wright State.
Due to NCAA transfer rules, Williams must sit out the 2003-04 season and will play his final year of eligibility during the 2004-05 season.
Williams, a 6-foot 7 forward from Christ the Kind High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., started 84 games for the Buckeyes and averaged 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. Last season, he started in 22 games and played in 31, averaging 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds a game.
During his sophomore season, Williams was a very pivotal factor in the Buckeye’s win over Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game. He grabbed a career-high 13 boards against the Fighting Illini.
As a senior in high school, Williams averaged a double-double a game with 16 points and 10 rebounds a night. He was named to the New York News Day first-team all-New York squad. He was also ranked as the fourth best in New York City by Gameball NYC and was a Nike Camp All-America top 25 player.
Center heads west, home
Lloyd Walls, a 6-foot 9 center from Esperanza, Calif., decided that he wanted to be closer to home and will transfer to Cal State-Fullerton.
Walls hopes to walk onto the basketball team.
In 22 games for the Raiders last season, he averaged 1.1 rebounds a game after transferring from Irvine Valley Community College.
