Gary Tuell
Head Coach
Gary Tuell will enter his fifth season at the helm of the NSU basketball program in 2008-09. Under Tuells direction, Nova Southeastern University has established their reputation as a solid NCAA Division II program on regional and national scales. Injuries once again curtailed a promising season for the Sharks in 2007-08, as the team finished 10-18. With two members of the front court suffering season ending injuries in the pre-season, many inexperienced freshman were thrust into key roles. NSU did manage to defeat SSC Champion and South Regional host Florida Southern while junior Tim Coenraad earned 2nd team All-SSC and South Region honors.
Under Tuell, the 2006-07 Sharks basketball team posted a 14-15 record, but the injury plagued season contained plenty of highlights and several glimpses of what could have been if the injuries never occurred. The Sharks played a non-conference schedule ranked number one in degree of difficulty by the NCAA. Showing that they were up to the challenge, NSU defeated three teams (Henderson State, Valdosta State, and Barry) who all advanced to the NCAA tournament.
Tuell guided the Sharks to a 17-11 record in 2005-06, a ten game improvement from the previous year. NSU rose from last in the conference pre-season standings to second in the final conference standings, with an 11-5 record.
Coach Tuell came to NSU on April 27, 2004 after spending seven years as head coach for the Augusta State University mens basketball program. During his tenure, Tuell transformed the Jaguars into perennial Peach Belt Conference contenders as Augusta State claimed five PBC North Division Titles, two Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championships and twice qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Coach Tuells teams averaged 18 wins per season and won 71 percent (72-30) of Peach Belt Conference games during Tuells final six years at ASU. The Jags also reached the 20-win plateau twice and were 114-89, overall, under Tuells direction.
The Peach Belt Conference is considered as one of the most challenging basketball conferences in the nation, and in 2004-05 it produced the NCAA Division II mens basketball national champion - Kennesaw State University.
Tuell has been lauded for his coaching excellence, having been named Coach of the Year twice by the PBC (1998-99, 2001-02) and Atlanta Tipoff Club (1998-99), as well as being named Naismith Coach of the Year (1998-99).
Tuell came to Augusta State after five seasons at St. Thomas University (Miami, Fla.), where the Bobcats captured three Florida Sun Conference championships, posted one second-place finish and went 88-76 overall. Tuell led St. Thomas to the NAIA Division II National Tournament on two occasions (1993-94, 1996-97).
Tuell previously served as the head coach for one season at Milligan College in Tennessee and for four seasons at Cincinnati Christian. He recorded an 11-19 season at Milligan in 1985-86, while he went 89-29 at Cincinnati Christian, including seasons of 27-7, 27-3, and 25-6.
In Tuells 18 seasons as a head coach, his teams have won six conference championships, four region championships, and six conference tournament championships while compiling a 9-6 record in six national tournament appearances.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Tuell received a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Louisville and served as an assistant freshman coach for the Cardinals from 1970-73. He was later a volunteer assistant coach at Louisville from 1982-85 and restricted earnings coach at the University of Miami from 1987-92.
Tuell also authored Above the Rim, a book detailing the history of Louisville basketball. The 352-page book sold over 10,000 copies.
