Jon Wheeler Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 3rd Year Alma Mater: California '87

A 13-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Jon Wheeler is in his third season as a member of Ben Braun's coaching staff at Cal.

Known for his strong recruiting ties, especially in the western United States, Wheeler works with the Golden Bear post players, coordinates recruiting, acts as the team's academic liaison and assists in many other areas of the program.

Wheeler gained his first coaching experience as a part-time assistant at Cal under Lou Campanelli from 1990-92. In 1990, he helped the Bears gain their first NCAA Tournament berth in 30 years.

Wheeler then moved onto UC Davis, where he served as head assistant coach for three seasons from 1992-95 under Bob Williams. During his final year there, the Aggies finished 20-11, captured their first league title in 18 years with a 13-1 mark and advanced to the regional semifinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Wheeler returned to the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Pepperdine in 1996. After one season with the West Coast Conference school, Wheeler moved on to UC Santa Barbara, where he spent four years before deciding to return to Cal.

While with the Gauchos, Wheeler worked under Jerry Pimm for two seasons and then was the only coach retained by Bob Williams, the former UC Davis coach, when he took over the program in 1998. During his tenure at UCSB, Wheeler served as recruiting and academic coordinator and worked with the Gaucho post players.

Wheeler's affiliation with Cal began when he transferred to Cal from Saint Mary's after his sophomore season with the Gaels. A two-year starter from 1986-87 as a 6-7 forward, Wheeler averaged 8.4 points per game as a senior, helping the Bears to the quarterfinals of the 1987 NIT.

Following graduation, he played professional basketball in France and later toured with an Australian-based team, the Illawarra Hawks.

A 1982 graduate of Petaluma High School in Sonoma County, Wheeler earned All-Northern California honors as a senior.

Wheeler received his bachelor's degree from Cal in social science in 1987, and he earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Saint Mary's in 1998. Wheeler and his wife, Jynane, have a 2-year-old son, Michael, and reside in the East Bay.