Head Coach Nick Hager enters his sixth season at the helm of the Bison men's basketball team in 2020-21.
In his first three seasons, Hager has compiled a record of 51-36 (.586) overall, including a 35-19 mark against PAC foes, and has led the Bison to at least the PAC Tournament Semifinals in each season. The Franklin, Pennsylvania native collected his 50th career win with Bethany's 76-72 win over Westminster in the PAC Semifinals last season.
Hager guided the Bison to a 17-13 record in 2017-18, including a 14-4 mark against PAC opponents. Bethany made its first appearance in the PAC Championship game since 2012 and earned a second-consecutive bid into the ECAC Tournament. Under Hager's tutelage, guard Calique Jones led the PAC with 19.0 points per game and was named First Team All-PAC following the season. The 2017-18 squad featured three all-conference selections in total, with center Liam Davis earning second-team laurels and forward Chaice Truex being tabbed honorable mention.
In 2016-17, Hager led the Bison to a 17-13 record and a berth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Tournament Semifinals. Bethany featured a pair of All-PAC selections in Antonio Rudolph and Jones. Rudolph claimed first-team all-conference honors and All-ECAC Second Team laurels, while Jones was tabbed an All-PAC Honorable Mention.
In his first season as head coach, Hager led the Green & White to a 17-10 record and the third-overall seed in the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament. Under his tutlage, the Green & White tallied a 12-6 mark in conference play and notched a first-round victory over Thiel College (69-60).
During his inaugural season, Hager helped lead the Bison to a third-place ranking in points per game (74.7), while also ranking third in opponents' points per game (69.2). Bethany posted a scoring average of +5.4 throughout the season. The Green & White defended well during the year, especially at the three-point line (holding opponents to a percentage of .301).
Individually, Hager helped a pair of Bison earn All-PAC honors, including Rudolph, who was just one of two players in the conference that ranked in the top 15 in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game. Rudolph averaged 12.1 points per game, while leading the league in rebounds per game (8.1) to earn first-team honors.
Hager came to Bethany for his first head coaching position after serving as an assistant coach with. During that time, Juniata posted an overall record of 82-55 while earning back-to-back Eastern College Athletic Conference South Regional Championships in 2012-13 and 2013-14. In the 2014 ECAC semifinals, Juniata came to Bethany, who was the top seed in the tournament, and knocked off the Bison before defeating Hood (Md.) College in the championship game.
The high water mark for Juniata during Hager’s tenure came in the 2012-13 season, as he helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 21-9 record, which included a 9-5 mark in the Landmark Conference, a league which features perennial Top 25 contenders Catholic (D.C.) University and the University of Scranton. In the previous season, Hager helped the team to 19 wins and was a member of the staff that was named the Landmark’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
During his five seasons, Hager helped develop six All-Landmark Conference selections, as well as two CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees.
Prior to his five years as a coach at Juniata, Hager spent two seasons at Auburn University where he served as a graduate assistant in the Tigers’ Compliance office. In 2009, he graduated from Auburn with a Master’s of Education in Administration in Higher Education and Sports Management.
Hager received his Bachelor of Arts from Juniata in 2007, where he served as a four-year letter winner, three-year starter and two-year captain of the Golden Eagles basketball team. A defensive-minded presence, Hager still ranks third on the Eagle’s all-time list in career-steals (144).
Hager currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pa with his Fiancée Tori.
