Brian Agler '80 Returns To Wittenberg To Reflect On Coaching Success
Thirty-four years after he won a national championship as the starting point guard for the Wittenberg men's basketball team and just six months after coaching the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to the 2010 league title, Brian Agler, class of 1980, will speak at his alma mater at 4 p.m. Monday, April 18, in Ness Family Auditorium in Hollenbeck Hall.
Brian Agler
Springfield, Ohio — Thirty-four years after he won a national championship as the starting point guard for the Wittenberg men's basketball team and just six months after coaching the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to the 2010 league title, Brian Agler, class of 1980, will speak at his alma mater at 4 p.m. Monday, April 18, in Ness Family Auditorium in Hollenbeck Hall.
Agler, who is one of just seven coaches in WNBA history to win more than 100 career games, will make a brief presentation and then host a discussion about coaching at all levels that is open to the public. Afterwards, he will have dinner with Wittenberg students who are preparing to join the coaching profession after graduation.
Agler has led the Storm to the WNBA playoffs in each of his three seasons at the helm, culminating in a record-breaking run in 2010. Seattle posted a 28-6 regular season record, including a perfect 17-0 on its home court, and then ran through three rounds of playoffs without a loss to earn the title and WNBA Coach of the Year honors for Agler.
A 1995 Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor inductee and the men's basketball program's career assists leader for more than 15 years with 481 (he still ranks No. 2), Agler started his professional career in the college ranks. He compiled a 248-135 record in 15 years as a college head coach, turning around programs at Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College, University of Missouri-Kansas City and Kansas State. Using his college success as a platform for the next level, Agler took a job in the now-defunct American Basketball League (ABL).
He was named ABL Coach of the Year in 1997 while leading the Columbus Quest to an 82-22 record in four seasons. Agler then made the move to the WNBA, first with the expansion Minnesota Lynx in 2000 as head coach and general manager. After assistant coaching stops with the Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Silver Stars, Agler has made the most of his second WNBA head coaching opportunity with the Storm, with whom he also serves as general manager.
Agler's collegiate playing career included 112 straight starting assignments for the Tigers. He led the Tigers to a four-year record of 91-21, highlighted by a run to the NCAA Division III Tournament championship in 1977.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
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