Ric Wesley is heading into his fourth season as the head coach of Grand Valley State after leading the 2006-07 Lakers to a 29-5 record, the #7 ranking in Div. II and a berth in the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. The Lakers also won a Great Lakes Regional Championship and their second consecutive GLIAC North title. In the 2005-06 season, Wesley led the Lakers to a 27-4 record and their first GLIAC title since 1997 and first postseason berth since 2001. GVSU finished that season ranked fourth in the NABC Division II Coaches' Poll, its highest ranking in school history. Wesley was appointed as Grand Valley State's fifth head coach on April 20, 2004 and owns a 74-19 overall record.

During the 2006-07 season, Grand Valley State... • Tied for first in the nation in scoring defense (57.5 ppg) and field-goal percentage defense (37.0). • Was sixth in the country in scoring margin, outscoring their opponents by 14.6 ppg • Ranked in the top 25 in three other categories during the year including: - Won-Lost Percentage (.853, 8th) - Rebound Margin (7.2, 8th) - Personal Fouls Per Game (16.2, 20th) • Won 14 consecutive games. • Allowed more than 70 points just four times during the year. • Held 12 consecutive teams under 60 points.

Prior to being named head coach at Grand Valley State, Wesley completed five years as associate head coach at Southwest Missouri State. Ric joined the staff when current head coach Barry Hinson took over in 1999.

Wesley served as one of the primary recruiters at Southwest Missouri State, in addition to being active in every facet of the Bears' program. He helped guide the Bears to four winning seasons in his five years in the program, including a 23-win campaign with a trip to the second round of the NIT in his first season at SMS, 1999-00. Southwest Missouri State was 89-68 during Wesley's five years.

Prior to his arrival at SMS, Wesley spent four years as an assistant coach on the staff of head coach Grey Giovanine at Lamar University in Beaumont, Tex. Wesley helped direct the Cardinals' offensive attack as LU punched up the best scoring average in the Sun Belt Conference during the 1996-97 season, and Lamar turned in its best win total and longest stretch of winning seasons in over a decade.

Prior to his stay at Lamar, Wesley worked at Iowa State University during the 14-season tenure of Cyclones' head coach Johnny Orr. Wesley was a graduate assistant one year, a part-time assistant for a season, and a full-time assistant coach for the last twelve seasons he was in Ames, Ia.

He worked in every phase of the Iowa State program, including teaching, camp organization, scouting, preparation of highlight videos, recruiting and on-court game and practice coaching. During that span, Iowa State made six NCAA tournament appearances and went to the National Invitation Tournament on three other occasions. Wesley's tenure saw 10 Cyclones gain All-Big Eight Conference honors while a dozen players were academic all-conference selections during the same period of time.

During Wesley's ISU years, the Cyclones turned in six of the top seven all-time career scorers in school history and had seven National Basketball Association draft picks. Iowa State reached the NCAA tournament in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1993, reaching the Sweet 16 in 1986. ISU played in the preseason NIT in 1987 and 1992 and the postseason event in 1994.

The Cyclones accounted for 129 individual and team school records during the 14 seasons Orr and Wesley were together at ISU. The list of Iowa State NBA draft selections Wesley recruited and coached includes Robert Estes (Kings), Barry Stevens (Nuggets), Jeff Hornacek (Suns), Tom Schaefer (Nuggets), Sam Hill (Mavericks), Jeff Grayer (Bucks), Victor Alexander (Warriors), Sam Mack (Spurs), Fred Hoiberg (Pacers) and Loren Meyer (Mavericks).

A native of Chesaning, Mich., Wesley is a 1980 graduate of Central Michigan University and got his first coaching experience at CMU as a student assistant coach for the Chippewas during his four years on the Mount Pleasant campus. CMU reached tourney play in both the NCAA and NIT during that span. He also assisted briefly at Newaygo (Mich.) High school during the 1979-80 cage season and was active in camp work.

Wesley and his wife, Pat, are the proud parents of Charlie (19) and Caroline (15).