Wright State University is located in the city of Dayton, Ohio, and the basketball program is a part of the university’s athletics department. The Raiders are a member of the Horizon League and play their home games in the Nutter Center, an 8,400-seat arena on the Wright State University campus. The Nutter Center is one of the premier basketball venues in the Midwest and has played host to several NCAA Tournament events.
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History of Wright State Basketball
Wright State basketball was founded in 1965 and joined the NCAA in 1975 as a Division II program. The Raiders made the jump to Division I in 1987 and have been a member of the Horizon League since 2001. The program has had its share of success over the years, appearing in the NCAA Tournament twice (1999, 2007). The Raiders have also won multiple conference tournament championships and five regular season titles in their time in the Horizon League.
Head Coaches
The Raiders have had five head coaches since joining the Horizon League in 2001. Brad Brownell was the first head coach, leading the Raiders from 2001 to 2006 and leading the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Ed Schilling was the head coach from 2006 to 2011 and was followed by Billy Donlon from 2011 to 2016. Scott Nagy was hired in 2016 and led the team to the Horizon League regular season title in 2019. He was replaced in 2020 by former Purdue assistant coach and Nevada head coach David Carter.
Success on the Court
The Raiders have been a consistently successful program since joining the Horizon League in 2001. They have won the regular season title five times (2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2019), the conference tournament title twice (2007, 2018) and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament twice (1999, 2007). The Raiders have also won multiple conference tournament championships and have made several trips to the NIT and CIT.
Recruiting
Under head coach Scott Nagy, the Raiders have become one of the top recruiting programs in the Horizon League. The Raiders have had several top-100 players sign with the program over the last few years, including former Big 12 Freshman of the Year and current NBA player Tyrese Haliburton. The Raiders have also landed several high-profile transfers, including former Tennessee forward Yves Pons and former Florida guard Kevarrius Hayes.
The Future
The Raiders have been a consistent contender in the Horizon League and are looking to take the next step and become a perennial NCAA Tournament team. With the addition of David Carter as head coach, the Raiders have a coach with a proven track record of success and the ability to bring in top-level recruits. With the right pieces in place, the Raiders could be a team to watch in the Horizon League and beyond in the coming years.