Wittenberg University Men, 1961 & 1977

Legendary Coach Ray Mears who later coached the University of Tennessee and battled the Legendary Adolph Rupp many times, put Wittenberg University on the basketball map with a 1961 college division national championship and a six-year record of 121-23. His Tigers were the best defensive team in the nation four times and won four Ohio Athletic Conference titles.

Success followed the Tigers over a decade later as they became NCAA Division III champs in 1977. Leading them to their victory was legendary coach Larry Hunter who later won National Coach of the Year honors. Hunter received this great honor after becoming the first coach in NCAA history to win a national championship in his first season.

Today Wittenberg lays claim as the top basketball program in NCAA Division III history by victories (1,507) and percentage (.712).