(SAN DIEGO) Former PLNU Men's Tennis standout Scott Wheeler has been announced as the Head Coach of his alma mater, Athletic Director Jordan Courneya said.
Curt Wheeler will remain the Head Coach of PLNU Women's Tennis.
"Throughout the search process, Scott consistently demonstrated a strong alignment with the mission and values of Point Loma Nazarene University," Courneya said. "His commitment to developing the whole person spiritually, academically, athletically, and personally reflects the foundation of our department and the calling we have to serve our student-athletes.
"What stood out most during the process was Scott's genuine desire to build meaningful, long-lasting relationships with our student-athletes. He is passionate about creating an environment where athletes feel known, valued, challenged and supported. His vision extends beyond wins and losses, focusing on the development of character, leadership, resilience, and overall well-being."
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Scott Wheeler returns to The Point where he played for the Sea Lions in 2018-19, when he posted the second most singles and doubles victories on the team and was an Academic All-PacWest selection. He graduated from PLNU with a master's degree in sports management.
"I'm so thankful to be able to return to Point Loma and have the chance to coach alongside my brother Curt, this amazing athletic department and all of the other excellent coaches here," Scott Wheeler said. "I'm excited to get to work and coach a great group of guys, compete and represent PLNU on and off the court."
Prior to his senior season at PLNU, Scott Wheeler played at Arizona Christian, where he won the 2016-17 Golden State Athletic Conference championship and 2017-18 GSAC Tournament while leading the Firestorm to top-10 national rankings in both seasons.
He had the most singles and doubles wins of any ACU player in 2016-17 and reached double-digit singles victories once again the following season. The GSAC Athlete of the Month also earned NAIA and GSAC Scholar-Athlete honors.
"Scott brings a unique perspective to this role as a former student-athlete at Point Loma," Courneya said. "Having experienced our community firsthand, he possesses an intimate understanding of what makes PLNU special and the transformative impact this institution can have on the lives of young people."
Beyond his stellar playing career, Scott Wheeler brings over five years of experience as an Associate Tennis Professional and teaching private lessons.
"His experience as an Associate Tennis Professional provided him with opportunities to teach lessons, mentor junior players and build meaningful relationships through the game of tennis," Courneya said. "Those experiences have helped shape his philosophy of athlete development and position him well to lead our program into its next chapter."
PLNU Men's Tennis has made a program record four straight NCAA West Regional appearances.
