JACKSON - Millsaps College graduate and former basketball standout, Tim Wise, has been named the 25th head men's basketball coach at his alma mater. Wise replaces John Stroud, who retired on March 18 after thirteen years as the Majors' head coach.

"We are thrilled that Coach Wise has accepted this opportunity," said Millsaps Athletic Director Ron Jurney at a Monday afternoon press conference. "Coach Wise is dedicated to Millsaps College and its student-athletes, and we believe that his intelligence, work ethic, and passion for the game will be beneficial to our basketball success."

Wise, 36, assumes the reins of the school's 93 year-old program after serving the last five seasons as the Majors' assistant coach. During the past five campaigns, Millsaps notched five consecutive winning seasons and compiled a record of 79-48. The Majors won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title in 2000-2001 and advanced to the Division III NCAA Tournament the same year.

Wise, who graduated from Millsaps in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, was a four-year basketball letterman under Coach Don Holcomb from 1985-1989. Wise set the single season school record for assists with 158 during the 1985-1986 year and currently sits atop the Millsaps' career leader board in assists with 552.

A native of Memphis, Tenn., and a 1985 graduate of Memphis University School, Wise began his coaching career in 1989 at St. Benedict Catholic School in Cordova, Tenn. In 1992, Wise returned to Memphis University School, where he served as assistant varsity coach and was head coach of the junior varsity until 1997. Wise was then named the head men's basketball coach at the newly opened Cordova High School in the fall of 1997 before joining the Millsaps' staff for the 1998-1999 basketball season.

Wise, who received his teacher certification from the University of Memphis in 1993 and a Master of Science in Sports Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2000, has taught on the high school and college level. His most recent teaching stint came as an adjunct professor in the Sports Administration Department at Belhaven College from 2000-2002.

Wise is married to the former Rachel Cook of Memphis, Tenn., who is also a Millsaps graduate. The couple has three children, Luke (6), Anna (4), and Allie (1).