UVA Wise men’s basketball coach Blake Mellinger has announced some changes to the coaching staff for the 2024-25 season. Blake Stinson has been promoted to associate head coach while Zac Ervin has been hired as an assistant coach.
Stinson has been with the program since 2019, when the Honaker native joined the program as a student assistant. After he graduated in 2021 he transitioned to full assistant coach status.
“This is a very well-deserved recognition for Blake,” said Mellinger. “Much of our success in recruiting and program development is directly related to his efforts. I am extremely thankful for his contributions to our team.”
New to the program is Zac Ervin, a native of nearby Gate City, who joins the team following a successful playing career at Elon University. Ervin was a four-year starter for the Phoenix, where he scored over 900 points. He earned several awards during his career, including the Coastal Athletic Association’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the conference’s Dean Ehlers Leadership Award for his work in the classroom, on the court, and out in the community.
When asked about Ervin, Mellinger stated, “We are very excited to have Zac join our staff. Zac comes from a basketball family and he will be a tremendous asset to our and team. He was very successful as a player, and his experiences will make him an extremely valuable resource for our players and our program.”
Prior to Elon, Ervin had a standout prep career at Gate City High School where he helped lead the team to 104 wins, four district titles, four state tournaments, three state final four appearances and a state championship. He was named the VHSCA Class 2 Co-Player of the Year, Region 2D and Mountain 7 District Player of the Year, and was a three time First Team All-State selection.
