University Park, Pa. — Penn State men’s basketball coach Ed DeChellis announced the hiring of Ernie Nestor as the Nittany Lions’ Director of Basketball Operations beginning June 28. Nestor will fill the position previously held by Jon Perry who took an assistant coaching position at Quincy University in Illinois.
"I’m very happy to welcome someone with coach Nestor’s experience and character to our program," DeChellis said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and a terrific personality and I think our players and staff will really enjoy having Ernie become part of our family.
"We wish the very best for Jon Perry as he pursues his career in coaching. Jon has been a very valuable member of my staff for a long time, dating back to my days at East Tennessee. Quincy presented a great opportunity for him to expand in the coaching business, but he’ll always be part of our family and we’ll certainly support him anyway we can."
Nestor brings 41 years of coaching experience to the Nittany Lion program having made previous collegiate coaching stops at James Madison, Wake Forest, California, George Mason, South Carolina, and most recently Elon. Nestor has 11 years of head coaching experience under his belt holding that position at George Mason from 1988 to 1993 and at Elon from 2003 to 2009. Nestor spent the last year serving as a scout for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets.
"It’s really exciting to join coach DeChellis’ program and a terrific conference like the Big Ten," Nestor said. "I have a great deal of respect for how coach DeChellis runs his program and look forward to being a part of that and the challenge of competing in the Big Ten."
This will be the fourth major conference stop for Nestor having previously competed in the ACC, SEC and Pac-10. As a head coach, Nestor led George Mason to its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 1989 as a 15 seed vs. Indiana. While at Elon, he led his team on an improbable run through the 2008 Southern Conference Tournament by becoming the lowest seeded team (7th) to reach the finals since 1988. They lost to a Davidson team led by Stephen Curry ending their bid for the school’s first-ever NCAA appearance.
Nestor’s total time at Wake Forest lasted 14 seasons over two separate terms (1979-1985, 1993-2001). He spent his last eight campaigns on the Demon Deacons’ staff under head coach Dave Odom, helping the team to postseason appearances in each of the eight years. During that period, Wake Forest captured the 1995 and 1996 ACC championships, advanced to the 1996 NCAA regional final and claimed the 2000 NIT championship. Nestor also served as the head coach of the 1996 U.S. Jones Cup Team in Taiwan.
Nestor earned his bachelor’s degree from Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia in 1968 and received his master’s degree from West Virginia University. A native of Philippi, W. Va., he and his wife, Janet, have two children, Stephanie and Jennifer. They also have four grandchildren, Kodiak, Lucy, Clio, and Jude.
