Otterbein University announced on Monday March 25 that Andy Winters was hired as the next men's basketball head coach. Winters will replace previous head coach Brian Oilar, who resigned from the position in late February.
"There are three core values that I hope to bring to Otterbein's basketball program," said Winters. "We're going to have a tireless work ethic, a selfless environment and a competitive greatness. I'm ready to make a positive impact at a place I've always seen myself."
Winters, 28, comes to Otterbein after spending time with Capital University's men's basketball program as a lead assistant and interim head coach. At the time, he was the youngest head basketball coach in the NCAA for the university's 2016-17 season.
Players on the basketball team are looking forward to the change Winters will bring to the program.
"I'm very excited [to have him as head coach]," said Eddie Anders, a sophomore journalism and media communication major and shooting guard on the men's basketball team. "I think a change was needed, and he's the right guy to push the program where it needs to go."
According to Otterbein University Sports Information Director Adam Prescott, the search committee for the position began in the week following Oilar's resignation. The committee was led by Director of Athletics Dawn Stewart, who also was hired from Capital University. Winters was chosen out of a pool of close to 100 applicants.
Winters grew up in the Columbus area and played on the men's basketball team at Bishop Watterson High School. After enrolling at Ohio Wesleyan University, Winters was a four-year starter on the men's basketball team, earning the First Team All-America title his senior year.
Upon graduation, Winters worked as an assistant at Ohio Dominican University for a year, where the team experienced the most overall conference overall wins since first joining the NCAA Division II.
During Winters' time at Capital, the Crusaders entered the NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time since 2012. The team ranked No. 16 in national rankings and earned top-seed honors in the OAC tournament.
"We hired him because he's incredibly familiar and has a great relationship with the area," said Prescott. "He grew up watching Otterbein and proved to be great player in high school and college."
