Wierwille was more than a coach

ORLANDO, Fla. – News travels fast. No matter the speed, sometimes it’s hard to swallow and can hit you head on.
Such was the case Sunday after learning that former Berea College men’s basketball coach Roland Wierwille had passed away Saturday at the age of 70 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Berea following a short illness.
Wierwille spent more than three decades as coach at Berea College and led the team to an appearance in the NAIA Final Four following his miraculous comeback from a stroke he suffered in 1994. Wierwille not only successfully made a comeback from the stroke, but coached again after taking a one-year hiatus.
Following his stroke, I visited Wierwille and his late wife Cecilia at their home numerous times, and I can remember Cecilia adamantly declaring doctors and others in the medical profession didn’t know her husband that well and that he would be back on the sidelines.
She was right. Wierwille, who coached most of all of his games at Seabury Gymnasium, was back on the sidelines during the first game in the Seabury Center in a matter of months following his stroke.
Although he didn’t coach the last game in the historic gym, Wierwille witnessed the final game played in the old facility – a contest former Berea College player Daniel Brown dedicated to his coach.
Wierwille won 564 games while he was at Berea and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1999. Following his comeback from the stroke, Wierwille turned in one of his top coaching performances during the 1997-98 season. In the season opener, Wierwille guide the Mountaineers to a 94-88 upset over Eastern Kentucky in the 1997 season opener for both teams at McBrayer Arena.
I can still remember Wierwille and Cecilia hugging on the court following the victory and Wierwille pointing his finger at Paul S. McBrayer’s name on the wall following the win. Beating the larger school in Madison County was a big feat for Berea, but of larger significance to Wierwille, who played for McBrayer at Eastern Kentucky.
It was a big win that had a special meaning for Wierwille. I’m sure it was one of the milestones of his coaching career.
During the times I covered Wierwille’s teams at Berea, he never declined an interview following a game. Like most coaches, Wierwille didn’t like to lose and didn’t take a loss lightly.
One of those losses took place at Centre College, a contest which he felt like his team should have won. Although Wierwille was down following the loss, he took the time to answer my questions before he got on the team bus and departed Danville for Berea.
Wierwille’s record at Berea speaks for itself, and he was successful even without the benefit of offering scholarships.
Wierwille will forever be a legend and an icon at Berea not just because he was a successful coach, but because of his competitive spirit, his love for his players, family, Berea College and those around him.
Wierwille was a winner in all phases of life. He was more than a coach, he was a friend.