The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Athletic Department mourns the loss of former head coach and administrator, Bruce Wheeler, who passed away on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
Coach Wheeler served as the Head Baseball Coach for Southeastern Massachusetts University, later UMass Dartmouth from 1972 - 2004. During his tenure Wheeler compiled an impressive 731-515-3 record, guiding nine teams to the NCAA Division III Tournament, including the 2000 season when the Corsairs captured their first Little East Conference Tournament title.
Wheeler's squads also qualified for eight ECAC Tournaments and made four NAIA Tournament appearances in the early 1970's. He served as the National Chairman of the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee and was the 1997 recipient of the Jack Butterfield Award – given in recognition of distinguished service and promotion of college baseball.
The 1998 Little East Conference Coach of the Year, Wheeler guided the Corsairs to one of their finest seasons in 1998 as the squad went 31-12, reaching the NCAA Division III Regional finals. In addition to his storied career with the baseball program, Wheeler also coached basketball for SMU from 1972 to 1983, posting a 133-131 career record over 11 seasons.
Wheeler, who also served as Assistant Director of Athletics at UMass Dartmouth, was inducted into the Corsair Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also a 2019 inductee into the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Hall of Fame, and a 2020 honoree into the Little East Conference Hall of Fame.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Visitation on Saturday, September 30, 2023, from 3 pm to 7 pm in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth.
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