Eric Wise enters his eighth year at USA in 2011-12. He is in charge of high school recruiting and assisting with team travel at South Alabama.
Wise came to USA after spending two seasons at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. His duties on the Cowgirl staff included working with the post players, involving the Cowgirls in community service projects and designing and publishing the Cowgirl newsletter.
Wise went to McNeese State after spending two seasons at Bethune-Cookman College (2001-03) as an assistant coach. Prior to his two-year stint at BCC, Wise served as an assistant coach at Louisiana-Monroe for one season. While at UL-Monroe, Wise was a staff member of one of the program’s all-time great teams, finishing 20-7 overall and 17-3 in Southland play.
Before entering the college ranks, Wise spent four years (1996-2000) as the head girls’ coach at West
Feliciana High. He led his teams to the playoffs every year and won three district titles and was named Coach of the Year three times.
He began his coaching career as the boys’ basketball head coach at Opelousas Catholic. There, he produced one co-district championship team in his four year stint (1992-96). His 1993-94 and 1994-95 teams advanced to the playoffs.
Wise is married to Shannon Ned and has two daughters, Jerilyn and Imani.
