An outstanding prep football and basketball player in his own right at Philip Barbour High School, Ernie Nestor became well-known as an elite basketball coach during the ensuing five decades. As a member of PB’s first graduating class in 1964, he also was a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and Hi-Y, and served as Senior Class President.
The Philippi native went on to receive degrees at Alderson-Broaddus College and West Virginia University in 1968 and 1970 respectively before beginning an eight year coaching run at Ravenswood (WV) and John D. Bassett (VA) High Schools, preparing him for a remarkable career in the college ranks that would take him to the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Pac 10 conferences.
Ernie spent 14 seasons as assistant coach at Wake Forest University (1979-85 and 1993-2001). During this period, the Demon Deacons won two Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles, reaching the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament in 1996 and winning the NIT championship in 2000. He also coached the USA’s 1996 William Jones Cup squad in international competition.
From 1988 to 1993, Mr. Nestor assumed head coaching duties at George Mason University, leading the Patriots to their first NCAA tournament appearance in program history in 1989. Following his second stint at Wake Forest, Ernie took the reins at Elon University in 2003 for the next six years, and was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2006.
During his forty years on the Division I sidelines, Coach Nestor also spent multiple seasons at James Madison, California-Berkley and South Carolina. He concluded his career with a variety of contributions to the sport of basketball; first as an advanced scout for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA, then as an assistant at Penn State and the University of Missouri, and finally five years at the US Naval Academy.
In 2014, Ernie Nestor was awarded a “Guardians of the Game” award for education by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. At the time of his induction, Ernie, the proud father of two daughters and four grandchildren, resided in Hampstead, North Carolina, with his wife, Janet.
The Philippi native went on to receive degrees at Alderson-Broaddus College and West Virginia University in 1968 and 1970 respectively before beginning an eight year coaching run at Ravenswood (WV) and John D. Bassett (VA) High Schools, preparing him for a remarkable career in the college ranks that would take him to the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Pac 10 conferences.
Ernie spent 14 seasons as assistant coach at Wake Forest University (1979-85 and 1993-2001). During this period, the Demon Deacons won two Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles, reaching the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament in 1996 and winning the NIT championship in 2000. He also coached the USA’s 1996 William Jones Cup squad in international competition.
From 1988 to 1993, Mr. Nestor assumed head coaching duties at George Mason University, leading the Patriots to their first NCAA tournament appearance in program history in 1989. Following his second stint at Wake Forest, Ernie took the reins at Elon University in 2003 for the next six years, and was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2006.
During his forty years on the Division I sidelines, Coach Nestor also spent multiple seasons at James Madison, California-Berkley and South Carolina. He concluded his career with a variety of contributions to the sport of basketball; first as an advanced scout for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA, then as an assistant at Penn State and the University of Missouri, and finally five years at the US Naval Academy.
In 2014, Ernie Nestor was awarded a “Guardians of the Game” award for education by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. At the time of his induction, Ernie, the proud father of two daughters and four grandchildren, resided in Hampstead, North Carolina, with his wife, Janet.