Wiley College announced the hiring of Joseph Flegler as head men’s basketball coach.
The announcement was made during a press conference at Alumni Gymnasium on Monday. Flegler joins the Wildcat Family after being the head coach at Ecclesia College (Ark.). He comes to Wiley College with nine years of coaching experience with seven at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I level.
“There were four qualities that I was looking for in our next head coach – a Christian, with experience in coaching and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and a connection to Wiley College,” said Bruce Peifer, Associate Vice President of Athletics and Strategic Retention. “After meeting Flegler and talking to him, I believe our program is heading in the right direction.”
We are pleased to announce the hiring of Joseph Flegler as head men's basketball coach. #FeartheClaws #OntheHunt #FortheW https://t.co/AEpf6EcV62 pic.twitter.com/Dzx4GeeQqc
— Wiley Athletics (@WileyAthletics) April 5, 2022
Flegler takes over a Wiley College team that won 10 games in a season that was impacted by the ongoing coronavirus. The Wildcats played nearly its entire conference schedule in the month of February. They are projected to return 10 players. Wiley College will be moving to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference next season.
Also read: GCAC expands membership to include Oakwood University, Wiley College, and Southern-New Orleans
“I’m here to mold young men,” Flegler said. “I’m here in front of you all because of that. I know the prestige Wiley, the ‘W,’ as it’s called has. I know the lineage of great coaches that I’m coming behind. Ultimately, I’m here about the student-athlete’s experience. I believe if we take care of that piece, the basketball will take care of itself.”
At Ecclesia, Flegler led the Royals, which compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association to a 14-6 record. He picked up victories over National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools Central Christian College, Lyon College and Williams Baptist University.
Before Ecclesia, Flegler spent a season as an assistant coach at South Carolina State University where he helped develop two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selections Themus Fulks and Rahsaan Edwards. He spent six seasons at his alma-mater Savannah State University as an assistant coach. Under his guidance, the Tigers led the NCAA in 3-pointers made and ranked in the top five in scoring in consecutive seasons. It defeated power-five program Oregon State University 93-90. In 2018, the Tigers won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season title. Flegler helped tutor six All-MEAC selections.
His coaching career began at Thomas University. He helped the program – which was defunct for 15 years – defeat four Top 25 opponents and advance to the semifinals of the Sun Conference Tournament. He developed NAIA All-American Justyn Watkins.
As a player, Flegler played at Savannah State University and helped turn the program around. It went 0-28 in the season before Flegler and won the most games in their NCAA Division I history when he graduated. Before Savannah State, Flegler played at the College of Southern Maryland, where he was selected to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region XX and All-Maryland JUCO teams after averaging 24.7 points per game. Flegler played three seasons professionally abroad, including being drafted by the Quebec Kebs.
Courtesy: Wiley College Athletics
