WITTENBERG BASKETBALL

School Website | Athletics Website

Mascot: Tigers
Location: Springfield, OH
Colors: Red & White
Enrollment: 1,450

PROUD PARTNERS

Matt Croci, a 1994 Wittenberg alumnus, was named Wittenberg's head men's basketball coach on July 1, 2016, making him the 19th head coach in school history. He brings 20 years of coaching experience, including 10 as a head coach. Croci holds the distinction of being the only individual in the history of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) to win honors as the NCAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year (1994) and Coach of the Year (2008, 2018, 2020). He was inducted into the Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor in 2005.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to be named head men's basketball coach at my alma mater. The tradition and history of our program make this a special opportunity for me and my family," said Croci, "Wittenberg has always been home to me, I look forward to guiding the program into the future and leading our student-athletes to reaching their full potential. I'd like to thank Dr. Helton, the Board of Trustees for their support and trust in me to lead the program. I also appreciate the outpouring of support shown by our incredible basketball alumni."

Wittenberg Highlights

• In four seasons, Croci’s Tigers have garnered a 111-39 record (.740)
• North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year | 2018, 2020
• NCAC Tournament Champions | 2018, 2019, 2020
• NCAC Regular Season Champions | 2018
• National Association of Basketball Coaches - Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year | 2018
• D3Hoops.com - Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year | 2018
• Croci took the Tigers back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Wittenberg made their first back-to-back NCAA appearances in 2018 & 2019 for the first time since the 2011 & 2012 season.
• Advanced to the 2^nd round of the NCAA tournament 2018, 2019
• In his second year at the helm, the Tigers found their way onto the national leader board, tallying a 22-game win streak.
• So far, Croci’s Tigers have spent 22 weeks ranked in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll, making their highest appearance at No. 3 during the 2017-18 season.
• Croci has coached the first four NCAC Defensive Players of the Year: Shane Edwards (16-17), Chad Roy (17-18), Mitchell Balser (18-19), Jake Bertemes (19-20), Brice Hill (22-23).
• Croci has coached one All-American since taking over the program: Chad Roy (2018).
• Croci has coached three Great Lakes All-Region players: Shane Edwards (2017), Chad Roy (2018) and Connor Seipel (2019)
• Croci has guided 7 players to All-NCAC honors: Shane Edwards, Jaelin Williams, Chad Roy, Mitch Balser, Jake Bertemes, Connor Seipel and James Johnson, Landon Martin, Levi Boettcher,
  and Trey Killens.
• The Tigers have also garnered the last two NCAC Tournament MVPs: Connor Seipel (2018), James Johnson (2019)

Prior Coaching Highlights

• 2008 North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year - Kenyon College
• Croci led Kenyon to back-to-back top-four finishes for just the third time in program history
• Croci also led Kenyon into the NCAC Tournament in all 7 seasons, after having not made it in the previous 2 seasons
• Croci coached one All-American, one NCAC Player of the Year, two NCAC Newcomer’s of the Year and eight All-NCAC players in 7 seasons at Kenyon.

The Croci File:

Hometown: Toledo, OH
Alma Mater: Wittenberg University '94

College Coaching Experience

• Capital University Assistant Coach (1994-96, 2000-03, 13-15)
• Mary Washington College Assistant Coach (1998-2000)
• Kenyon College Head Coach (2003-10)
• Wittenberg University Assistant Coach (2012-13, 15-16)
• Head Coach (2016-Present)

Honors

North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (2008,2018)
Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor (2005)
NCAC Player of the Year (1994)
All-American (1994)

2x Wittenberg Points Leader (1993, 1994)

Steals Leader (1994)

The Toledo, Ohio native earned his bachelor's degree in English from Wittenberg in 1994, and he is currently finishing his master's in sports leadership from Northeastern University.

His wife, Patrice, is a 1995 Wittenberg graduate. They reside in Upper Arlington with their three children, Sophia, Cecilia, and Cameron.

Wittenberg University Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation, Brian Agler '80, announced the appointment of Melissa Kolbe '99 as the 11th Head Women's Basketball Coach in program history. Kolbe, who has spent the last four seasons as the associate head coach at the University of Cincinnati, will officially begin her tenure with the Tigers on May 1, 2022.

"I am honored to be named the next head women's basketball coach at my alma mater," Kolbe said. "Wittenberg University, and specifically this program, has been instrumental in my growth both personally and professionally, and I am ecstatic at the opportunity to give back to the next generation of Tigers."

In her time at UC, she helped coach the 2020-21 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year IImar'I Thomas, who received all 50 voting points from the league's coaches to be the only conference player to earn unanimous first-team All-AAC honors for the second consecutive season. Thomas also earned national player of the week honors from the Unites States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) after she set the UC women's basketball record and the AAC record for most points in a game when she poured in 51 points to go with 12 rebounds at East Carolina on Feb. 24.

"We are excited to welcome Melissa back to Wittenberg University. She brings a wealth of excellent collegiate coaching experience and we couldn't be happier to welcome her to our team," Agler said. "She knows a lot about and is extremely passionate about Wittenberg University, and I am confident that she will continue to build our women's basketball program so it can reach great potential in the future." 

Prior to arriving at UC in April 2018, Kolbe spent three seasons at Western Kentucky University, where she helped lead the Lady Toppers to 78 total wins, two Conference USA Tournament Championships, and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Other Previous DI coaching stints include time at Mount Saint Mary's (2014-15), Eastern Kentucky (2008-14), and East Carolina University (2002-08).

"The success Tamika Williams-Jeter led this program to last year is an exciting foundation that I am looking forward to building on and Brian Agler's vision for the future of Wittenberg Athletics is inspiring and one I cannot wait to be a part of," Kolbe said. "This is a full circle moment, being able to walk the sidelines that Pam Evans Smith walked when I played.  I can't wait to get back on campus and get to work!"

Kolbe began her intercollegiate coaching journey immediately following her senior year at Wittenberg as she joined the staff at NCAA Division II Valdosta State (GA) for the 99-00 and 00-01 seasons. She then made the jump to the NCAA Division 1 level for the 2001-02 season at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.

Kolbe, who was named a Wittenberg team captain during her senior season, remains fifth on the program's career field goal percentage list after knocking down 271-of-530 (.511) shot attempts during her four-year playing career in Springfield.  She was also voted the team's Most Outstanding Player during the 1998-99 season and capped her senior campaign by receiving a first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) nod. During her four-year career, she helped lead the Tigers to three NCAC Championships (96, 98 & 99), two NCAC Tournament Championships (96 & 98) and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (96 & 98).