Brian Agler ’80 To Be Inducted Into Ohio Basketball Hall Of Fame In 2014

Brian Agler '80 coaches the Seattle Storm of the WNBA.

Springfield, Ohio – The ranks of Wittenberg University basketball greats in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame continues to grow with the selection of Brian Agler, class of 1980, for induction in May 2014. 

Agler joins Don Henderson, class of 1954, Frank Shannon, class of 1940, Eldon Miller, class of 1962, Al Thrasher, class of 1964, Pam Evans Smith, class of 1982, and Ray Mears, who coached the Tigers from 1956-62, in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition, the 1961 Wittenberg men’s basketball team, which captured the university’s first national championship in any sport, and the 1977 national championship men’s basketball team were both inducted in 2006 as part of the inaugural Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame & Museum induction class. 

A 1995 Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor inductee and the men's basketball program's career assists leader for more than 15 years with 481 (he still ranks No. 2), Agler’s collegiate playing career included 112 straight starting assignments for the Tigers. He led Wittenberg to a four-year record of 91-21, highlighted by a run to the NCAA Division III Tournament championship in 1977. 

Agler started his women’s basketball coaching career in the college ranks, compiling a 248-135 record in 15 years at Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Kansas State University. Agler moved to the professional ranks in the now-defunct American Basketball League (ABL) from 1996-98, earning ABL Coach of the Year honors in 1997 and leading the Columbus Quest to an 82-22 record and a pair of league championships. 

Agler’s first stop in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) came with the expansion Minnesota Lynx in 2000 as head coach and general manager. After assistant coaching stops with the Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Silver Stars, Agler has made the most of his second WNBA head coaching opportunity with the Seattle Storm, with whom he also serves as general manager. 

Agler has led the Storm to the WNBA playoffs in each of his four seasons at the helm, including a record-breaking run in 2010. Seattle posted a 28-6 regular season record, including a perfect 17-0 on its home court, and then ran through three rounds of playoffs without a loss to earn the title and WNBA Coach of the Year honors for Agler. 

The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame was formed in 2006 to recognize the achievements of both male and female basketball players, coaches, officials and teams in high school, college and professional basketball. For more information, log on to http://www.ohiohoopzone.com.

Written By: Ryan Maurer