Thanks to a great source who had HoopDirt.com out in front of this on earlier this week (DAILY DIRT)…
A new talented hardwood men’s basketball coach will man the McDonough Center sidelines this winter. Wheeling Jesuit has selected NCAA Division I Purdue Fort Wayne assistant coach John Peckinpaugh as the new head men’s basketball coach.
The highly-touted new Cardinals’ director comes to the Ohio Valley after spending last season, helping the Mastodons to another winning campaign (18-15), which included a win over Indiana, 92-72, last December in his second stint at the Division I program.
“I’m honored to be named the next head basketball coach at Wheeling Jesuit. This is a great opportunity to join a program with great tradition,” said Peckinpaugh. “We will roll up our sleeves and work every day to build on that tradition. I can’t wait to get started.”
Peckinpaugh takes over a WJU program fresh off a 26-6 season where it won the Mountain East Conference Tournament title and made its third-straight NCAA Division II Atlantic Region appearance.
“We are very excited to have Coach Peckinpaugh lead our men’s basketball program. We had a very deep and talented candidate pool for the position, but it became clear during the interview process that John’s overall experience made him the right fit for Wheeling Jesuit University. Not only has he been groomed by some of the best mid-major coaches in the country, but he has also had his own successes as a head coach. We look forward to what Coach Peckinpaugh will add to the tradition of our program,” explained Rudy Yovich, WJU Director of Athletics.
Peckinpaugh aims to continue what had become a WJU staple of being a true team exemplifying hard work and being an exciting team to watch on the court.
“I expect our teams to out-work and out-hustle every team we play. We’ll be a team that is not only exciting to watch, but one that Wheeling Jesuit and the Wheeling community can be proud of on and off the court,” explained Peckinpaugh.
The Indiana native comes to the Cardinals after serving two stints at both Purdue Fort Wayne and NAIA Division II Indiana Tech. Prior to being part this past year’s successful Purdue Fort Wayne staff, Peckinpaugh spent the previous three seasons (2013-17) at the Indiana Tech helm. Leading the Warriors, Peckinpaugh turned a team with 10 wins his first year into being named the 2015-16 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award when he led the team to 23 victories and an NAIA National Tournament berth. In his final year as the head coach, he led Indiana Tech to another 20-win season, which included a 19-point road win over No. 8-ranked and NAIA national-power Davenport.
In his three years as the Warriors head coach, Peckinpaugh compiled a 54-40 overall record with two 20-plus win seasons, while he coached nine WHAC All-Academic Team picks, six WHAC All-Conference selections and three NAIA All-Americans.
Prior to his second run with Indiana Tech, the new WJU coach had his first time on the Purdue Fort Wayne staff as a graduate assistant coach for the 2013-14 campaign. During that season, the Mastodons produced a program-record 25 wins and advanced to its first post season tournament.
Peckinpaugh started his men’s basketball coaching career during the 2012-13 season as an Indiana Tech assistant coach. He helped the Warriors to a 20-10 mark for that one year.
As a player, Peckinpaugh played in 108 games, including 61 starts, for Purdue Fort Wayne from the 2008-12 seasons. He helped the Mastodons finish over .500 during his sophomore and junior years, which were the first two winning seasons as a Division I member in school history.
Peckinpaugh is originally from Muncie, Ind., where he helped Muncie Central High School earn two state runner-up titles and three NCC conference titles.
Story Courtesy: Chris Myers, WJU Athletics
