Bruce Wheeler has been an integral part of the baseball program at UMass Dartmouth for the last 31 years. During his more than three decades of coaching the Corsairs he has compiled a record of 711-496-3, following a 19-19 record in the 2002 season. UMass Dartmouth was 7-7 in the Little East Conference and finished fifth overall.

The 2002 season saw Coach Wheeler reach the 700-win milestone with a 6-0 victory over Amherst College on April 2, 2002.

Nine of Wheeler's teams have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament, most recently following the 2000 season when the Corsairs also won their first Little East Conference Tournament championship. Wheeler's teams also qualified for eight ECAC Tournaments and made four NAIA tournament appearances in the early 1970's.

From 1996-98, Wheeler served as National Chairman of the NCAA Division III Baseball Committee, in addition to his duties as Assistant Director of Athletics at UMass Dartmouth.

Wheeler is a past recipient of the annual Jack Butterfield Award presented at the annual New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association's All-Star game. Wheeler was honored with the 1997 Butterfield Award in recognition of his distinguished service and promotion of college baseball.

The Corsairs enjoyed one of their finest seasons in the program's history under Wheeler during the 1998 season. The Corsairs finished 31-12 and reached the NCAA Division III Regional finals. Wheeler was selected Little East Conference Coach of the Year in 1998, recognizing his team's accomplishments.

From 1972 through 1983, Wheeler also coached basketball at Southeastern Massachusetts University, posting a 133-131 career record in 11 seasons.

5-29-02