Men's Basketball
Nestor, Ernie
Ernie Nestor
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
- Email:
- nestorel@wfu.edu
- Phone:
- 336-758-2935
Ernie Nestor returned to Wake Forest in 2018-19 for his third tenure on the basketball staff when he was named Special Assistant to the Head Coach in October. He previously was an assistant coach with the Demon Deacons from 1980-85 and 1994-01.
Nestor has over 40 years of Division I coaching experience and has worked in every Power 5 conference over his career. He has helped guide four different schools to the NCAA Tournament, and two others to the NIT.
Nestor’s career is highlighted by 11 years of head coaching experience at the Division I level. He spent five seasons as the head coach at George Mason from 1989-93, leading the Patriots to two 20-win seasons and the program’s first NCAA Tournament in 1989. George Mason twice reached the CAA Tournament final under Nestor, winning the conference title in 1989 and finishing as runner-up in 1991.
Nestor was the head coach at Elon for six seasons from 2004-09. In 2006, he led the Phoenix to its first winning season at the Division I level while capturing the Southern Conference North Division title. Nestor earned SoCon Coach of the Year honors in 2006 for those accomplishments. In 2008, he led Elon to the SoCon Tournament final, falling to an eventual NCAA Elite Eight squad Davidson, featuring Stephen Curry.
Nestor began his career as a high school coach for six years in the 1970s before beginning his four-decade collegiate coaching career at James Madison in 1976-77. It is a career that has led him to serve on the staffs at James Madison, Wake Forest (twice), California, South Carolina, Penn State and Navy. He also spent one season working in the NBA as an advance scout with the New Jersey Nets.
Nestor most recently was an assistant coach at Navy for five seasons from 2013-17 before announcing his retirement following the 2016-17 season. In each of his five seasons with the Midshipmen, the program improved its Patriot League win total from the previous season.
In Nestor’s first tenure with the Demon Deacons, as an assistant coach on Carl Tacy’s staff from 1980-85, the program played in three NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the 1984 Elite Eight, and made two NIT appearances. He returned to the program as an assistant coach on Dave Odom’s staff for eight seasons from 1994-01, helping the Deacs reach five NCAA Tournaments, win two ACC Championships and win the 2000 NIT Championship.
During his 13 years as an assistant coach at Wake Forest, Nestor coached four Demon Deacons whose numbers hang from the rafters of the LJVM Coliseum: Josh Howard, Muggsy Bogues, Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress. An additional eight players he coached at Wake Forest (Kenny Green, Frank Johnson, Jim Johnstone, Rusty LaRue, Guy Morgan, Delaney Rudd, Darius Songaila and Danny Young) went on to play in the NBA.
Following the 2013-14 season, Nestor was received a ‘Guardians of the Game’ award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Nestor’s Guardians of the Game honor was for education, which is presented each year to a coach who is committed to continuing education and the development of their profession in order to be better mentors, teachers and leaders.
A native of Philippi, W.Va., Nestor earned his bachelor’s degree from Alderson-Broaddus in 1968 and his master’s degree from West Virginia in 1970. He and his wife, Janet, have two daughters, Stephanie and Jennifer, and four grandchildren, Kodiak, Lucy, Clio and Jude.
Nestor has over 40 years of Division I coaching experience and has worked in every Power 5 conference over his career. He has helped guide four different schools to the NCAA Tournament, and two others to the NIT.
Nestor’s career is highlighted by 11 years of head coaching experience at the Division I level. He spent five seasons as the head coach at George Mason from 1989-93, leading the Patriots to two 20-win seasons and the program’s first NCAA Tournament in 1989. George Mason twice reached the CAA Tournament final under Nestor, winning the conference title in 1989 and finishing as runner-up in 1991.
Nestor was the head coach at Elon for six seasons from 2004-09. In 2006, he led the Phoenix to its first winning season at the Division I level while capturing the Southern Conference North Division title. Nestor earned SoCon Coach of the Year honors in 2006 for those accomplishments. In 2008, he led Elon to the SoCon Tournament final, falling to an eventual NCAA Elite Eight squad Davidson, featuring Stephen Curry.
Nestor began his career as a high school coach for six years in the 1970s before beginning his four-decade collegiate coaching career at James Madison in 1976-77. It is a career that has led him to serve on the staffs at James Madison, Wake Forest (twice), California, South Carolina, Penn State and Navy. He also spent one season working in the NBA as an advance scout with the New Jersey Nets.
Nestor most recently was an assistant coach at Navy for five seasons from 2013-17 before announcing his retirement following the 2016-17 season. In each of his five seasons with the Midshipmen, the program improved its Patriot League win total from the previous season.
In Nestor’s first tenure with the Demon Deacons, as an assistant coach on Carl Tacy’s staff from 1980-85, the program played in three NCAA Tournaments, including a run to the 1984 Elite Eight, and made two NIT appearances. He returned to the program as an assistant coach on Dave Odom’s staff for eight seasons from 1994-01, helping the Deacs reach five NCAA Tournaments, win two ACC Championships and win the 2000 NIT Championship.
During his 13 years as an assistant coach at Wake Forest, Nestor coached four Demon Deacons whose numbers hang from the rafters of the LJVM Coliseum: Josh Howard, Muggsy Bogues, Tim Duncan and Randolph Childress. An additional eight players he coached at Wake Forest (Kenny Green, Frank Johnson, Jim Johnstone, Rusty LaRue, Guy Morgan, Delaney Rudd, Darius Songaila and Danny Young) went on to play in the NBA.
Following the 2013-14 season, Nestor was received a ‘Guardians of the Game’ award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Nestor’s Guardians of the Game honor was for education, which is presented each year to a coach who is committed to continuing education and the development of their profession in order to be better mentors, teachers and leaders.
A native of Philippi, W.Va., Nestor earned his bachelor’s degree from Alderson-Broaddus in 1968 and his master’s degree from West Virginia in 1970. He and his wife, Janet, have two daughters, Stephanie and Jennifer, and four grandchildren, Kodiak, Lucy, Clio and Jude.
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
Wake Forest Football vs Western Carolina | Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, September 09
