This season will mark the 16th season for Lee Clark
as head men's basketball coach at The University of Virginia's College
at
Wise. Throughout his tenure, the veteran coach has been apart of the
most successful stretch of Cavalier Basketball while also aiding the
school in the transition to the Mid-South Conference.
Last season, the first season for UVa-Wise in the Mid-South Conference,
the
Cavaliers finished with double-digits wins and won four games in the
competitive league that produced the eventual NAIA national champion
and had two teams advance to the NAIA national tournament "Fab Four".
This year, Clark will count on veteran leadership and experience to build upon last year's season, returning four starters and three key reserves while welcoming a very talented group of freshman to the UVa-Wise program.
The 16th-year head coach holds the most career men's basketball coaching victories with 189 wins.
Twice,
Clark has led the Cavaliers to the national tournament; most recently,
UVa-Wise captured the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament crown
in 2010 with a dramatic 86-85 over Union College. The team advanced to
Point Lookout, Missouri where they fell to Indiana Wesleyan in the
opening round of the NAIA Tournament.
Meanwhile, his 2003 squad set
a new school record with 24 victories. The team captured the first AAC regular
season title in the program's history while also claiming the conference tournament title.
The team made the first NAIA national tournament appearance in school history where they fell
78-73 to traditional power Cornerstone (IA) University.
Before taking over the UVa-Wise program, Clark
was a successful high school coach. In six years, he led Twin Springs
High School to four
Region D championships and a state title. During his tenure, Clark's
teams tallied an impressive 126-28 record.
Under Clark, Twin Springs netted four 20-win
seasons, four VHSL Group A state tournament appearances and three Group A Final
Four trips. He was named Region D Coach of the Year for three consecutive
seasons and Cumberland District Coach of the Year five
consecutive seasons.
Clark earned his bachelor's degree from
UVa-Wise in 1985 and later received his master's degree in education from Lincoln Memorial University
Blake Mellinger enters his
fourth year as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for UVA-Wise. Over
the past three years Mellinger has spearheaded the recruiting efforts for the
Cavalier program, and assisted in leading the program to its second AAC
conference championship and national tournament appearance in 2010. In addition
to his recruiting responsibilities; Blake is also responsible for developing
game plans and strategies, on floor coaching, scheduling, team travel, day to
day operations, monitoring team compliance and academics, scouting of
opponents, individual player development, setting up community service
projects, and assists in the coordination of team camp.
Mellinger is no stranger to
the game of basketball. Having a father and grandfather as coaches, Blake has
become a third generation coach in the Mellinger family.
In addition to his time spent
with the Cavalier program, Blake has worked various basketball camps across the
southeast. He has served on camp staffs at Wofford College, Clemson University,
Charleston Southern University, The University of South Carolina, and Virginia
Tech.
A native of Glade Spring, Va,
Mellinger was a three sport athlete at Patrick Henry High School, lettering in
basketball, football, and track & field. After completing his career at
Patrick Henry, Mellinger accepted an offer to play at NCAA division II
Limestone College in Gaffney, SC where he played for Coach Larry Epperly from
2001-2003. He then transferred to UVA-Wise and played for Coach Lee Clark from
2003-2005. Blake served as a team
captain and went on to become an all conference player as a senior.
Mellinger received his bachelor's
degree in business administration from UVA-Wise in 2006. Blake, who is an
active member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, married the
former Amy Tolley of Bristol, VA.
Jordan works primarily with the guards and wing players. He is responsible for defensive match ups, scouting, and game preparations.
Jordan played for the Cavs from 1990-94 and helped the team to a 21-12 record as a senior, the most wins for a UVa-Wise squad at the time. After graduating, he coached the Wise County Christian School to a 52-35 overall mark and three winning seasons.
The assistant coach is the co-owner of Lawn Rangers Property Management and Trinity Airsoft Company. He is also an adjunct professor.
A native of Tazewell, Jordan earned his bachelor's degree in history from UVa-Wise in 1998. He and his wife Courtney (Moore), who also is an alumnae of UVa-Wise and a Spanish teacher at Appalachia High School, live in Pound, Virginia. The couple are blessed with four children, Annie (9), Noah (7), Abigail (4), and Nate (2)
After spending the last year as a graduate assistant at Doane College, Eric Swords joins the UVa-Wise men's basketball team as an assistant coach. Swords, a former Cavalier basketball player who suited up for the Cavaliers from 2007-09, has numerous responsibilities for UVa-Wise. Beyond on the floor coaching, Swords is an integral part of recruiting, scouting, and assisting in the development and conditioning of players. A graduate of Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky, Swords played college basketball at Martin Methodist College from 2004 to 2006 then joined the UVa-Wise Cavalier men's basketball team in 2007 and played until 2009. Coach Swords graduated from UVa-Wise in 2009 with a BS in Business Administration and is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Cumberlands.
