Mike Wacker, who led Texas Lutheran University to two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances, is retiring after 37 seasons and 782 wins as a head basketball coach at the high school and collegiate level.
The legendary Texas coach concluded his sixth season as the Bulldogs head coach in March. In addition to SCAC Tournament Championships in 2017 and 2019, he led the Bulldogs to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2017 and 2019.
“Dear Coach Miller and the entire Bulldog community,
I have stepped down as the Head Men’s basketball coach at Texas Lutheran University with my retirement as of May 31, 2022,” stated Wacker.
“This was not a recent or easy decision and I will be leaving with some sadness.
My health has deteriorated, with extreme neuropathy in my feet and progressing neuropathy in my hands. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our student athletes in the TLU Men’s basketball program while being part of the larger TLU community.
To have been the leader of the TLU Men’s Basketball program for the last six years is an honor I will long be proud of and I have greatly appreciated the tremendous support given to me. I want to personally thank our Athletic Director Bill Miller, President Cottrell and former President Dorsey for believing in me.
I have enjoyed our players so much, seeing them graduate and compete for championships. I am grateful to our associate head coach Austin Falke, and our other assistants during this time Blake Draper, Jonathan Cruz, Steve Porter, Jacob Kouremetis, Jorden Kite and Noah Rodriguez.
Coaching at Texas Lutheran has been a dream come true for me, and it has been a complete privilege and pleasure. This is full circle for me, starting in 1971 with our family move to Seguin and Texas Lutheran when I was in the third grade and I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity.
I am thankful for all the relationships, especially with the coaches and players from Texas State, UTSA, Judson High School and Texas Lutheran University since 1985.
After 37 wonderful years of coaching and teaching, I am excited to move on with my life with my wife Susie, as we travel, visit with family and friends and enjoy our grandchildren.”
Quotes on the retirement of coach Mike Wacker:
Texas Lutheran Athletic Director Bill Miller
Mike Wacker is one of the most successful basketball coaches in Texas. He has had a tremendous coaching career. Fortunately, part of that successful career included leading TLU’s Men’s Basketball program to two SCAC Basketball Championships. He is one of only two coaches in the history of TLU Men’s Basketball that coached a Bulldog team to two outright conference championships! Walking in the footsteps of his legendary father, Jim Wacker, Mike was able to make his own mark in TLU Athletics and made a difference in the lives of many Bulldog student-athletes along the way. We are so thankful for all of the contributions Coach Wacker made to TLU Athletics and wish him all of the best in his well deserved retirement.
Texas Lutheran President Debbie Cottrell
“TLU has been so fortunate to have Mike Wacker lead our basketball program. A legendary player from a legendary family, Coach Wacker has been an outstanding coach and mentor in his years at TLU. I will always be grateful for his enthusiasm and commitment to Bulldog athletics.”
MIKE WACKER’S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 37 seasons as a coach, including 26 seasons as head coach at Converse Judson High School (1 season as assistant at Southwest Texas State, 4 seasons as assistant coach at University of Texas-San Antonio, 26 seasons at Converse Judson High School, 6 seasons at Texas Lutheran)
- 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances
- Coached 14 All-Conference players
- 13x District Champion
- 3x San Antonio Express-News Greater San Antonio Coach of the Year
- Led Judson to 25 state playoff berths & three appearances in UIL Boys Basketball State Championship
- Inducted into Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame as a player and coach on May 21, 2011
THE WACKER RECORD
- Overall: 782-265, 32 seasons as head coach (.747)
- Record at TLU: 79-69, 6 seasons at TLU (.534); 51-37 record in SCAC (.580)
- NCAA Tournament (0-2)
- Conference Tournament Titles (2): 2017, 2019
- 703-196 record at the high school level
https://tlubulldogs.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/releases/20220531dudu1n
