University of Virginia's College at Wise Men's Basketball

Mellinger Blake Mellinger enters his fourth year at the helm of the UVa-Wise men's basketball program for the 2016-17 season. After guiding his team as full NCAA Division II members last season for the first time in his career, Mellinger looks to improve upon a 2015-16 campaign that saw the Cavaliers play one of the toughest schedules in the nation.   Highlighted by a 100-87 home win over rival and 14th-ranked King University on Dec. 20, 2015, where the Cavs made a school-record 18 three-pointers, Mellinger coached senior forward Matt Day to one of the best single seasons in UVa-Wise history.   Mellinger developed Day into one of the best forwards in the Mountain East Conference between his junior and senior seasons, helping the Buckhorn, Kentucky, native nearly double his scoring average and improve his rebounding average by 4.3 per game. In his final season as a Cav, Day scored an impressive 658 points and grabbed 307 rebounds to launch himself into sixth place on UVa-Wises all-time scoring list and earn All-MEC Second Team honors. He also set three UVa-Wise and MEC single-game records when he scored 49 points and made 24 of 27 free throws in a 102-89 home win against West Virginia State on Feb. 25, 2016.   Before being named head coach, Mellinger spent six seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for UVa-Wise. Over that time period he spearheaded the recruiting efforts for the Cavs, and assisted in leading the program to its second Appalachian Athletics Conference championship and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2010.   In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Mellinger was responsible for developing game plans and strategies, on floor coaching, scheduling, team travel, day-to-day operations, monitoring team compliance and academics, scouting opponents, individual player development, setting up community service projects, and assisting in the coordination of team camp.   Mellinger is no stranger to the game of basketball as his father and grandfather were both coaches, making him a third generation coach in the Mellinger family. A native of Glade Spring, Virginia, Mellinger was a three-sport athlete at Patrick Henry High School, lettering in basketball, football and track and field.   After completing his career at Patrick Henry, Mellinger accepted an offer to play at fellow NCAA Division II Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina, where he played for Coach Larry Epperly from 2001-2003. He then transferred to UVa-Wise and played for Coach Lee Clark from 2003-2005. Blake served as team captain for the Cavs and went on to become an all-conference player as a senior.   Mellinger received his bachelors degree in business administration from UVa-Wise in 2006. He and his wife Amy gave birth to their second child, Mckenna, last January and have a son named Mason. The head coach and his family reside in Wise.   Blake Mellinger '06 Head Coach Twitter:  BlakeMellinger Blake Mellinger enters his fourth year at the helm of the UVa-Wise men's basketball program for the 2016-17 season. After guiding his team as full NCAA Division II members last season for the first time in his career, Mellinger looks to improve upon a 2015-16 campaign that saw the Cavaliers play one of the toughest schedules in the nation.   Highlighted by a 100-87 home win over rival and 14th-ranked King University on Dec. 20, 2015, where the Cavs made a school-record 18 three-pointers, Mellinger coached senior forward Matt Day to one of the best single seasons in UVa-Wise history.   Mellinger developed Day into one of the best forwards in the Mountain East Conference between his junior and senior seasons, helping the Buckhorn, Kentucky, native nearly double his scoring average and improve his rebounding average by 4.3 per game. In his final season as a Cav, Day scored an impressive 658 points and grabbed 307 rebounds to launch himself into sixth place on UVa-Wises all-time scoring list and earn All-MEC Second Team honors. He also set three UVa-Wise and MEC single-game records when he scored 49 points and made 24 of 27 free throws in a 102-89 home win against West Virginia State on Feb. 25, 2016.   Before being named head coach, Mellinger spent six seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for UVa-Wise. Over that time period he spearheaded the recruiting efforts for the Cavs, and assisted in leading the program to its second Appalachian Athletics Conference championship and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2010.   In addition to his recruiting responsibilities, Mellinger was responsible for developing game plans and strategies, on floor coaching, scheduling, team travel, day-to-day operations, monitoring team compliance and academics, scouting opponents, individual player development, setting up community service projects, and assisting in the coordination of team camp.   Mellinger is no stranger to the game of basketball as his father and grandfather were both coaches, making him a third generation coach in the Mellinger family. A native of Glade Spring, Virginia, Mellinger was a three-sport athlete at Patrick Henry High School, lettering in basketball, football and track and field.   After completing his career at Patrick Henry, Mellinger accepted an offer to play at fellow NCAA Division II Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina, where he played for Coach Larry Epperly from 2001-2003. He then transferred to UVa-Wise and played for Coach Lee Clark from 2003-2005. Blake served as team captain for the Cavs and went on to become an all-conference player as a senior.   Mellinger received his bachelors degree in business administration from UVa-Wise in 2006. He and his wife Amy gave birth to their second child, Mckenna, last January and have a son named Mason. The head coach and his family reside in Wise.