Basketball Coaches
Head Coach - Bruce Wilson is in his 23rd season as head
men's basketball coach. Wilson won his 300th career game Jan. 24, 2006, when
the Storm defeated Luther 69-57. Wilson has compiled a 321-250 record (a .562
winning percentage). Wilson broke Frank Casey's (239, 1935-54) record for wins
by a Simpson head coach Nov. 27, 2001, when the Storm defeated Upper Iowa in
triple overtime. His 303 wins rank Wilson among the top 50 active Division III
men's basketball coaches. Wilson has been named Iowa Conference Coach of the
Year three times, twice led the Storm to the league championship and earned a
berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championships. A Simpson
graduate, Wilson received his master's degree in administration and physical
education from Gonzaga University where he served as an assistant coach for six
years. Named NCAA Division III West Regional Coach of the Year in 1992, Wilson
was also recognized by his peers with the Paul Maaske Memorial College Coach of
the Year award from the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association in 1991. Click To
Email Coach Wilson.
Assistant Coach - Tyler Erwin is in his third
season as the assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach at Simpson. Erwin
comes to the Storm after serving as the director of basketball operations and
assistant coach for the Nebraska Cranes of the United States Basketball League.
Prior to joining the Cranes, Erwin was a graduate assistant men's basketball
coach at NCAA Division II Nebraska-Kearney from 2003-05. The Lopers went 51-12
during his stint at Kearney and made it to the NCAA Division II North Central
Regional Tournament in 2004 and 2005. Erwin began his coaching career at his
alma mater, Midland Lutheran in 2000 after playing for the Warriors from
1997-2000. During his playing career, Erwin earned All-Conference honors and
was part of the Midland Lutheran team that made it to the 2000 NAIA National
Tournament. Erwin also serves as the head junior varsity coach and an academic
liaison at Simpson.
Assistant Coach - Justin Ruddy is in his first
season as a member of the Simpson staff. Ruddy was as a member of the
University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball staff from 2003-07. From 2003-04,
Ruddy was a student assistant for the Panthers. In 2004, he became a graduate
assistant for UNI. A GA until 2006, Ruddy spent last season as the video
coordinator for Northern Iowa. The Panthers earned NCAA Tournament bids from
2004-06, winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championship in
2004. Ruddy earned both his undergraduate (2004) and graduate degrees from
Northern Iowa (2007).