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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Zeigler Joins Pittsburgh Basketball Staff
August 02, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 2, 2001
Pittsburgh, Pa. - University of Pittsburgh head coach Ben Howland has announced the appointment of Ernie Zeigler to the Panthers' basketball staff.
"I am excited to have our staff completed," said Howland. "We already have an outstanding duo in Jamie Dixon and Barry Rohrssen. Ernie will be a great complement to our present staff."
Zeigler comes to Pittsburgh after serving one-year tenures at both Bowling Green (2000-01) and Kansas State (1999-2000). He also boasts significant head coaching experience overseas.
"I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to work with Coach Howland, Coach Dixon and Coach Rohrssen in a program that obviously is becoming one of the best in the nation," said Zeigler. "This opportunity to assist Coach Howland in achieving the level of excellence that he wants for the Pittsburgh basketball program is extremely exciting for me."
"I am excited to add Ernie to our staff," Howland said. "He has great qualifications. He has been a full-time assistant at both Bowling Green and Kansas State and has a wealth of knowledge in terms of the game. Ernie also has a keen ability to relate to players. He has been a fixture in the Detroit area for years and owns strong basketball contacts."
From 1997-99, Zeigler was head coach for the Al-Hilal Sports Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He guided his team to the championship of the Saudi Arabian Basketball Federation Playoffs in 1999 and to the Final Four of the Arab Championship Games and the Saudi Arabian Basketball Federation Playoffs in 1998.
In addition, Zeigler was the head coach of the Henan Wildcats from 1996-97 and was named the Chinese National Basketball Alliance International Coach of the Year in 1997 after leading the Wildcats to their first winning season in club history and their first playoff berth.
From 1992-97, Zeigler was the head coach of Team Detroit AAU. He led his squad to the state AAU Final Four Tournament each year at the helm. In 1994, Zeigler's team qualified for the National AAU Quarterfinals. In 1995 and 1997, he directed the team to the quarterfinals of the adidas Big Time Tournament.
Zeigler is a 1994 graduate of Cleary College with a bachelor's degree in business management.
A Detroit native, Zeigler began his coaching career at his alma mater, Detroit Cody High,
