HILLTOPPER coaches
HILLTOPPER coaches LARRY STOOPS (1923-26)
10-11, .476
Stoops led the Hilltopper cagers to three
1944-45: Joe Bartell ----- No Basketball – World War II 1946-47: Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 12-12 ----- .500 1947-48: Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 11-16 ----- .407
wins in their first varsity season. After a year’s hiatus, he produced the school’s first winning
MEL MUNSON (1948-51)
season in 1926.
Season: 1923-24: 1924-25: 1925-26:
Coach W-L Pct. Larry Stoops------------------------------------- 3-8------.273 No Basketball Larry Stoops------------------------------------- 7-3------.700
42-29, .591
Munson’s hiring ended the practice of one man serving as head basketball and football coach at West Liberty. He led the Hilltoppers to three straight winning seasons.
HARRY SWEENEY (1926-33)
43-17-1, .713
Also a highly-successful football coach, Sweeney capped a successful seven-year run on
Season: 1948-49: 1949-50: 1950-51:
Coach W-L Pct. Mel Munson --------------------------------- 13-11 ----- .542 Mel Munson --------------------------------- 15-11 ----- .577 Mel Munson ---------------------------------- 14-7 ----- .667
the hardwood with West Liberty’s first WVIAC basketball title in 1933.
Season: 1926-27: 1927-28: 1928-29: 1929-30: 1930-31: 1931-32: 1932-33:
Coach W-L Pct. Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 2-6------.250 Harry Sweeney ------------------------------- 10-1------.909 Harry Sweeney ------------------------------ 6-4-1------.591 Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 2-4------.333 Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 5-0---- 1.000 Harry Sweeney ------------------------------- 13-0---- 1.000 Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 5-2------.714
JOE BARTELL (1933-48)
40-17, .701
An All-SWC standout at Rice during his playing days, Wehr led the Hilltoppers to the first 20-win season and WVIAC tournament championship in school history.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1951-52: Dick Wehr -------------------------------------- 22-6 ----- .786 1952-53: Dick Wehr ------------------------------------ 18-11 ----- .621
102-136, .429
This Hilltopper Hall-of-Famer nursed the basketball program through the Great Depression and World War II while building the football program into a regional power.
Season: 1933-34: 1934-35: 1935-36: 1936-37: 1937-38: 1938-39: 1939-40: 1940-41: 1941-42: 1942-43: 1943-44:
DICK WEHR (1951-53)
Coach W-L Pct. Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 1-15------.063 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 13-5------.722 Joe Bartell --------------------------------------- 9-8------.529 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 4-14------.222 Joe Bartell --------------------------------------- 4-7------.364 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 10-12------.455 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 9-12------.429 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 9-14------.391 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 10-12------.455 Joe Bartell ---- No Basketball – World War II Joe Bartell ---- No Basketball – World War II
OLLIE OLSON (1953-57, 59-64) 143-98, .593 Olson led the Hilltoppers to one WVIAC crown (1961) and three WVIAC tourney titles (1952, 1957, 1960). He stepped aside for two years (1958, 1959) to coach the football team.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1953-54: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 16-12 ----- .571 1954-55: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 5-19 ----- .208 1955-56: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 17-8 ----- .680 1956-57: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 23-6 ----- .793 1959-60: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 18-11 ----- .621 1960-61: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 16-12 ----- .571 1961-62: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 15-12 ----- .556 1962-63: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 17-8 ----- .680 1963-64: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 16-10 ----- .615
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
HILLTOPPER coaches AL BLATNIK (1957-59)
31-21, .596
Blatnik produced two winning seasons after Olson was named head football coach. He was then named to replace Olson as football coach when Olson returned to basketball.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1957-58: Al Blatnik-------------------------------------- 17-10------.630 1958-59: Al Blatnik-------------------------------------- 14-11------.560
TOM MEIKLE (1964-67)
31-45, .408
After helping Olson and West Liberty win a WVIAC title as a senior in 1961, Meikle became one of the nation’s youngest head coaches when he replaced Olson four years later.
Season: 1964-65: 1965-66: 1966-67:
Coach W-L Pct. Tom Meikle ----------------------------------- 9-15------.375 Tom Meikle ---------------------------------- 10-15------.400 Tom Meikle ---------------------------------- 12-15------.444
EDGAR MARTIN (1967-69)
33-20, .622
Martin put together back-to-back winning
1970-71: 1971-72: 1972-73: 1973-74: 1974-75: 1987-88: 1988-89: 1989-90: 1990-91: 1991-92:
Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 15-15 ----- .500 Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 16-11 ----- .593 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 8-20 ----- .286 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 5-20 ----- .200 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 6-21 ----- .222 Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 11-16 ----- .407 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 9-18 ----- .333 Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 10-18 ----- .357 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 3-22 ----- .120 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 2-25 ----- .074
TOM MCDONALD (1975-76)
5-16, .238
A former football teammate of Jack Lambert at Kent State, McDonald had been a football assistant before landing the basketball job. He stepped down after just 21 games.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1975-76: Tom McDonald ------------------------------- 5-16 ----- .238 NOTE: Former coach Tom Ackerman (0-1), football coach Leo Miller (0-1) and athletic director Edgar Martin (0-5) combined to coach the final seven games of the 1975-76 season.
BOB CHUEY (1976-78)
27-24, .529
Chuey took West Liberty from 8 wins in his
seasons before stepping down to begin a
debut season to a 19-10 record the following
lengthy run as athletic director. He returned to
year. Those 19 wins were the most victories for
coach one game in 1976.
a Hilltopper team in two decades.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1967-68: Edgar Martin ---------------------------------- 18-7------.720 1968-69: Edgar Martin --------------------------------- 15-12------.556
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1976-77: Bob Chuey ------------------------------------- 8-14 ----- .364 1977-78: Bob Chuey ----------------------------------- 19-10 ----- .655
TOM ACKERMAN (1969-76, 87-92) 101-200, .336 This former Hilltopper standout played on West Liberty’s first WVIAC tourney title team in 1952. Nearly two decades later, he coached the ’Toppers to their 1971 tournament crown.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1969-70: Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 16-9------.640
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
HILLTOPPER coaches PAUL HOLZSHU (1978-87)
107-145, .425
This former Clemson cager led the ’Toppers to three straight WVIAC tourney semifinals (1982-84) and finished as high as third in the regular season during his 9-year run.
Season: 1978-79: 1979-80: 1980-81: 1981-82: 1982-83: 1983-84: 1984-85: 1985-86: 1986-87:
Coach W-L Pct. Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 11-16------.407 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 13-15------.464 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 15-12------.556 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 15-14------.517 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 13-17------.433 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 18-11------.621 Paul Holzshu ---------------------------------- 9-19------.321 Paul Holzshu ---------------------------------- 4-24------.143 Paul Holzshu ---------------------------------- 9-17------.346
DAN PETRI (1992-04)
159-167, .488
The 1996 WVIAC Coach of the Year, Petri’s
JIM CRUTCHFIELD (2004-17)
359-61, .855
This 7-time Conference Coach of the Year led the Hilltoppers to 7 straight league titles and 5 regional championships during his historic run. A 2-time NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, Crutchfield compiled the highest winning percentage in NCAA basketball history during his time at WLU.
Season Coach W-L Pct. 2004-05: Jim Crutchfield ------------------------------ 21-10 ----- .677 2005-06: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 21-8 ----- .724 2006-07: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 25-5 ----- .833 2007-08: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 23-6 ----- .793 2008-09: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 23-7 ----- .767 2009-10: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 29-3 ----- .906 2010-11: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 33-1 ----- .971 2011-12: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 32-3 ----- .914 2012-13: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 34-2 ----- .944 2013-14: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 31-4 ----- .886 2014-15: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 28-4 ----- .875 2015-16: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 31-4 ----- .886 2016-17: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 28-4 ----- .875
teams finished fourth or better in the WVIAC standings on four different occasions, including a runner-up finish in 1995-96.
Season: 1992-93: 1993-94: 1994-95: 1995-96: 1996-97: 1997-98: 1998-99: 1999-00: 2000-01: 2001-02: 2002-03: 2003-04:
Coach W-L Pct. Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 12-15------.444 Dan Petri --------------------------------------- 16-9------.640 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 15-11------.577 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 17-10------.630 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 14-13------.519 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 10-16------.385 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 17-11------.607 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 13-15------.464 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 16-12------.571 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 14-14------.500 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 11-16------.407 Dan Petri --------------------------------------- 4-23------.148
Coaching Records Winning Percentage Coach Years W-L Pct. Jim Crutchfield -------------------------- 13------------359-61 ----- .855 Harry Sweeney---------------------------- 7------------- 43-17 ----- .717 Dick Wehr ---------------------------------- 2------------- 40-17 ----- .701 Edgar Martin ------------------------------ 2------------- 33-20 ----- .622 Al Blatnik ----------------------------------- 2------------- 31-21 ----- .596 Ollie Olson --------------------------------- 9------------143-98 ----- .593 Mel Munson ------------------------------- 3------------- 42-29 ----- .591 Bob Chuey --------------------------------- 2------------- 27-24 ----- .529 Dan Petri --------------------------------- 12---------- 159-167 ----- .488 Larry Stoops ------------------------------- 2------------- 10-11 ----- .476 Joe Bartell -------------------------------- 12---------- 102-136 ----- .429 Paul Holzshu ------------------------------- 9---------- 107-145 ----- .425 Tom Meikle -------------------------------- 3------------- 31-45 ----- .408 Tom Ackerman ------------------------- 11---------- 101-200 ----- .336 Tom McDonald 1 5-16 .238 Totals 90 1233-1007 .548
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
10-11, .476
Stoops led the Hilltopper cagers to three
1944-45: Joe Bartell ----- No Basketball – World War II 1946-47: Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 12-12 ----- .500 1947-48: Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 11-16 ----- .407
wins in their first varsity season. After a year’s hiatus, he produced the school’s first winning
MEL MUNSON (1948-51)
season in 1926.
Season: 1923-24: 1924-25: 1925-26:
Coach W-L Pct. Larry Stoops------------------------------------- 3-8------.273 No Basketball Larry Stoops------------------------------------- 7-3------.700
42-29, .591
Munson’s hiring ended the practice of one man serving as head basketball and football coach at West Liberty. He led the Hilltoppers to three straight winning seasons.
HARRY SWEENEY (1926-33)
43-17-1, .713
Also a highly-successful football coach, Sweeney capped a successful seven-year run on
Season: 1948-49: 1949-50: 1950-51:
Coach W-L Pct. Mel Munson --------------------------------- 13-11 ----- .542 Mel Munson --------------------------------- 15-11 ----- .577 Mel Munson ---------------------------------- 14-7 ----- .667
the hardwood with West Liberty’s first WVIAC basketball title in 1933.
Season: 1926-27: 1927-28: 1928-29: 1929-30: 1930-31: 1931-32: 1932-33:
Coach W-L Pct. Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 2-6------.250 Harry Sweeney ------------------------------- 10-1------.909 Harry Sweeney ------------------------------ 6-4-1------.591 Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 2-4------.333 Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 5-0---- 1.000 Harry Sweeney ------------------------------- 13-0---- 1.000 Harry Sweeney --------------------------------- 5-2------.714
JOE BARTELL (1933-48)
40-17, .701
An All-SWC standout at Rice during his playing days, Wehr led the Hilltoppers to the first 20-win season and WVIAC tournament championship in school history.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1951-52: Dick Wehr -------------------------------------- 22-6 ----- .786 1952-53: Dick Wehr ------------------------------------ 18-11 ----- .621
102-136, .429
This Hilltopper Hall-of-Famer nursed the basketball program through the Great Depression and World War II while building the football program into a regional power.
Season: 1933-34: 1934-35: 1935-36: 1936-37: 1937-38: 1938-39: 1939-40: 1940-41: 1941-42: 1942-43: 1943-44:
DICK WEHR (1951-53)
Coach W-L Pct. Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 1-15------.063 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 13-5------.722 Joe Bartell --------------------------------------- 9-8------.529 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 4-14------.222 Joe Bartell --------------------------------------- 4-7------.364 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 10-12------.455 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 9-12------.429 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------- 9-14------.391 Joe Bartell ------------------------------------ 10-12------.455 Joe Bartell ---- No Basketball – World War II Joe Bartell ---- No Basketball – World War II
OLLIE OLSON (1953-57, 59-64) 143-98, .593 Olson led the Hilltoppers to one WVIAC crown (1961) and three WVIAC tourney titles (1952, 1957, 1960). He stepped aside for two years (1958, 1959) to coach the football team.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1953-54: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 16-12 ----- .571 1954-55: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 5-19 ----- .208 1955-56: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 17-8 ----- .680 1956-57: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 23-6 ----- .793 1959-60: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 18-11 ----- .621 1960-61: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 16-12 ----- .571 1961-62: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 15-12 ----- .556 1962-63: Ollie Olson ------------------------------------- 17-8 ----- .680 1963-64: Ollie Olson ----------------------------------- 16-10 ----- .615
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
HILLTOPPER coaches AL BLATNIK (1957-59)
31-21, .596
Blatnik produced two winning seasons after Olson was named head football coach. He was then named to replace Olson as football coach when Olson returned to basketball.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1957-58: Al Blatnik-------------------------------------- 17-10------.630 1958-59: Al Blatnik-------------------------------------- 14-11------.560
TOM MEIKLE (1964-67)
31-45, .408
After helping Olson and West Liberty win a WVIAC title as a senior in 1961, Meikle became one of the nation’s youngest head coaches when he replaced Olson four years later.
Season: 1964-65: 1965-66: 1966-67:
Coach W-L Pct. Tom Meikle ----------------------------------- 9-15------.375 Tom Meikle ---------------------------------- 10-15------.400 Tom Meikle ---------------------------------- 12-15------.444
EDGAR MARTIN (1967-69)
33-20, .622
Martin put together back-to-back winning
1970-71: 1971-72: 1972-73: 1973-74: 1974-75: 1987-88: 1988-89: 1989-90: 1990-91: 1991-92:
Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 15-15 ----- .500 Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 16-11 ----- .593 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 8-20 ----- .286 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 5-20 ----- .200 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 6-21 ----- .222 Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 11-16 ----- .407 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 9-18 ----- .333 Tom Ackerman ----------------------------- 10-18 ----- .357 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 3-22 ----- .120 Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 2-25 ----- .074
TOM MCDONALD (1975-76)
5-16, .238
A former football teammate of Jack Lambert at Kent State, McDonald had been a football assistant before landing the basketball job. He stepped down after just 21 games.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1975-76: Tom McDonald ------------------------------- 5-16 ----- .238 NOTE: Former coach Tom Ackerman (0-1), football coach Leo Miller (0-1) and athletic director Edgar Martin (0-5) combined to coach the final seven games of the 1975-76 season.
BOB CHUEY (1976-78)
27-24, .529
Chuey took West Liberty from 8 wins in his
seasons before stepping down to begin a
debut season to a 19-10 record the following
lengthy run as athletic director. He returned to
year. Those 19 wins were the most victories for
coach one game in 1976.
a Hilltopper team in two decades.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1967-68: Edgar Martin ---------------------------------- 18-7------.720 1968-69: Edgar Martin --------------------------------- 15-12------.556
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1976-77: Bob Chuey ------------------------------------- 8-14 ----- .364 1977-78: Bob Chuey ----------------------------------- 19-10 ----- .655
TOM ACKERMAN (1969-76, 87-92) 101-200, .336 This former Hilltopper standout played on West Liberty’s first WVIAC tourney title team in 1952. Nearly two decades later, he coached the ’Toppers to their 1971 tournament crown.
Season: Coach W-L Pct. 1969-70: Tom Ackerman ------------------------------- 16-9------.640
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
HILLTOPPER coaches PAUL HOLZSHU (1978-87)
107-145, .425
This former Clemson cager led the ’Toppers to three straight WVIAC tourney semifinals (1982-84) and finished as high as third in the regular season during his 9-year run.
Season: 1978-79: 1979-80: 1980-81: 1981-82: 1982-83: 1983-84: 1984-85: 1985-86: 1986-87:
Coach W-L Pct. Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 11-16------.407 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 13-15------.464 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 15-12------.556 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 15-14------.517 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 13-17------.433 Paul Holzshu --------------------------------- 18-11------.621 Paul Holzshu ---------------------------------- 9-19------.321 Paul Holzshu ---------------------------------- 4-24------.143 Paul Holzshu ---------------------------------- 9-17------.346
DAN PETRI (1992-04)
159-167, .488
The 1996 WVIAC Coach of the Year, Petri’s
JIM CRUTCHFIELD (2004-17)
359-61, .855
This 7-time Conference Coach of the Year led the Hilltoppers to 7 straight league titles and 5 regional championships during his historic run. A 2-time NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, Crutchfield compiled the highest winning percentage in NCAA basketball history during his time at WLU.
Season Coach W-L Pct. 2004-05: Jim Crutchfield ------------------------------ 21-10 ----- .677 2005-06: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 21-8 ----- .724 2006-07: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 25-5 ----- .833 2007-08: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 23-6 ----- .793 2008-09: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 23-7 ----- .767 2009-10: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 29-3 ----- .906 2010-11: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 33-1 ----- .971 2011-12: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 32-3 ----- .914 2012-13: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 34-2 ----- .944 2013-14: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 31-4 ----- .886 2014-15: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 28-4 ----- .875 2015-16: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 31-4 ----- .886 2016-17: Jim Crutchfield -------------------------------- 28-4 ----- .875
teams finished fourth or better in the WVIAC standings on four different occasions, including a runner-up finish in 1995-96.
Season: 1992-93: 1993-94: 1994-95: 1995-96: 1996-97: 1997-98: 1998-99: 1999-00: 2000-01: 2001-02: 2002-03: 2003-04:
Coach W-L Pct. Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 12-15------.444 Dan Petri --------------------------------------- 16-9------.640 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 15-11------.577 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 17-10------.630 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 14-13------.519 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 10-16------.385 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 17-11------.607 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 13-15------.464 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 16-12------.571 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 14-14------.500 Dan Petri -------------------------------------- 11-16------.407 Dan Petri --------------------------------------- 4-23------.148
Coaching Records Winning Percentage Coach Years W-L Pct. Jim Crutchfield -------------------------- 13------------359-61 ----- .855 Harry Sweeney---------------------------- 7------------- 43-17 ----- .717 Dick Wehr ---------------------------------- 2------------- 40-17 ----- .701 Edgar Martin ------------------------------ 2------------- 33-20 ----- .622 Al Blatnik ----------------------------------- 2------------- 31-21 ----- .596 Ollie Olson --------------------------------- 9------------143-98 ----- .593 Mel Munson ------------------------------- 3------------- 42-29 ----- .591 Bob Chuey --------------------------------- 2------------- 27-24 ----- .529 Dan Petri --------------------------------- 12---------- 159-167 ----- .488 Larry Stoops ------------------------------- 2------------- 10-11 ----- .476 Joe Bartell -------------------------------- 12---------- 102-136 ----- .429 Paul Holzshu ------------------------------- 9---------- 107-145 ----- .425 Tom Meikle -------------------------------- 3------------- 31-45 ----- .408 Tom Ackerman ------------------------- 11---------- 101-200 ----- .336 Tom McDonald 1 5-16 .238 Totals 90 1233-1007 .548
2017-18 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE
