University of Richmond Athletics
Ready To Get Things Started!
09/30/2002 | Men's Basketball
Sept. 29, 2002
by Bob Black -
Jerry Wainwright vividly remembers the first time he stepped foot in the Robins Center. He almost did an abrupt about-face.
"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."
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.
Wainwright's most recent visits to the Robins Center came as head coach during a highly successful run at UNC Wilmington. In eight seasons at UNCW, he compiled a 136-103 (.569) record. The 55-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 this past season.
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 establish tradition at Wilmington," said Wainwright. "I left a program on the rise. But there's already tremendous tradition here. I have come to a program poised to be 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 25 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 as his team captured 15 of its last 21 games to reach the tournament final and earn a NIT berth. 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.
"Richmond fans missed out on seeing the program's signature team," admitted Wainwright. "Last year's team was high-powered. We could win in the 90's or we could win in the 50's. We were physical, played good defense and didn't beat ourselves.
"That value system will remain unchanged. This is a young team with a lot of firepower and depth. Our fans will be surprised how fast we play and the energy our players bring to the gym.
"Almost to a man I knew all of these players - either playing against them or recruiting them. My highlight so far has been their acceptance and trust in what we're doing. I don't know if I've ever seen anything quite like the chemistry of this team.
"What does have to change is the mentality of going from the huntee to the hunted. I want our players to understand they can't be afraid of success. And we won't skip steps. People who skip steps slip and fall and go all the way back down. These kids will never have that happen."
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) and Rodney Rogers (Denver). 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 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 (31) and Scott (27). In addition, he is the grandfather of two, Alexis and Brett.
Wainwright will take over a Richmond program that went 22-14 this past season, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NIT. The squad returns four starters and a host of newcomers as it prepares to compete in its second season in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
"There is only one reason I came here from a coaching perspective. We can win at the highest level. We can recruit the top student-athletes in the country. We can be a national force. We have a unique place on the national stage.
"I'm a Sweet 16 guy. I'm a Great 8 guy. This program has three goals - win the regular season title, win the A-10 Tournament Title, and advance past the first round of the NCAA's. That will never change."
