The College of Wooster Men's Basketball

Few people, if any, understand The College of Wooster basketball experience more fully than Doug Cline, a 1995 graduate of the school, does. Cline, who just completed his 29th year as a full-time member of the coaching staff, is now at the helm of the program he once starred for, following the retirement of Steve Moore at the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic year. As an assistant, and more recently as associate head coach, Cline's been heavily involved with every facet of the tradition-rich program, which has sustained a remarkable run of success, rivaled even by household name Div. I programs. Wooster's won over 600 games (674-185) during Cline's 29 years as a full-time staffer, and he's helped the program make 23 NCAA appearances during that stretch, headlined by trips to the Div. III "Final Four" in 2003, 2007, and 2011. At the conference level, Wooster's won 16 of its North Coast Athletic Conference-leading 19 titles during Cline's tenure on the staff, including seven straight from 2005-11, and his first as head coach during the 2022-23 season. Since taking over as head coach, Wooster has posted an 82-36 record. As a player for the Scots, Cline was a member of one of the top basketball classes ever at Wooster, helping lead the Scots to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a record of 91-21 in four years. For his career, Cline finished with 1,396 points, placing him 17th on Wooster's all-time scoring list, and holds the fifth-best career field-goal percentage mark (.607

Brian Kiper, who won two state championships as a high school basketball coach and was a member of nearby Triway High School's state semifinalist team as a player, joined The College of Wooster men's basketball staff in advance of the 2023-24 season and started assisting the men's golf program in a volunteer capacity in 2024. Kiper, who teaches in the Triway Local School District, served as Triway's golf coach from 1997-2001 and 2012-2023 and guided the program to two state tournament berths and five league championships. Locally, he was a basketball head coach at Northwestern High School and Triway High School. While in Myrtle Beach, Kiper compiled a 99-14 record with two state championships in basketball at Myrtle Beach High School and won two league titles as the girls' golf coach. Additionally, Kiper led one team and two individuals to state championship berths in golf. Kiper is the son of Charlie and Joan Kiper, who are among the men's basketball program's biggest supporters. Kiper graduated from Kent State University with a degree in physical education.

Jack Stevens, a 2021 College of Wooster alumnus who was instrumental in the Fighting Scots’ success during his time as a student, is in his fifth year in a full-time

Phil Kuchta, who has strong ties to the high school scene in Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties, joined The College of Wooster men's basketball staff prior to the 2022-23 season. Kuchta, who assists with all aspects of the program, has coached at the collegiate level since 2018. Since joining Wooster's staff, the Fighting Scots won the 2022-23 North Coast Athletic Conference title, swept the NCAC Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player awards in 2023-24, and the team ended 2023-24 ranked No. 2 nationally in field-goal percentage. The 2022-23 staff was the NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year, and Kuchta has coached five different all-conference players and three major award winners. Div. III's winningest team of the 2000s is 60-23 with Kuchta on staff. Kuchta arrived in Wooster after serving on Baldwin Wallace University's staff since 2018. There, he was part of the Yellow Jackets' 2019 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title and first-round NCAA Tournament victory, firsts for the program since 2006. At BW, Kuchta assisted with on-court coaching in practice, recruiting and evaluating student-athletes, analyzing game film, scouting, and travel and logistics. Prior to transitioning to the college ranks, Kuchta transformed Elyria Catholic High School's boys' program into a highly-respected one within the Cleveland area. Kuchta turned around a program that went 4-18 in his first year to one that made four district appearances in a five-year stretch and won two conference titles. He h