WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Otterbein University men's basketball head coach Andy Winters has been selected for induction into the Ohio Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame, announced this week by the school.

Winters, a 2013 graduate of OWU, becomes a prestigious first-ballot selection and part of a class set for enshrinement come Saturday, Oct. 7 as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend on campus.
 
"This is a special honor, and one that I'm very grateful to receive," Winters said. "I will always remember the people part of our team – teammates that laced up alongside me every single day, along with coaches and support staff that guided us. I was fortunate to grow around great people that put an entire program before themselves. I also met my wife (Katie) during college. Everything helped shape the rest of my life both personally and professionally. That experience turned me into the person you see now."

Winters was a four-year standout on the basketball floor as Battling Bishop, becoming a 3x All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) performer and helping the program make back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Championships. The smooth point guard led the league in assists all four seasons and guided the Bishops to an 82-39 record during his college run.

A consistent floor general, he spearheaded Ohio Wesleyan back to the NCAA's as a junior but saved his best for last during a memorable senior year (in 2012-13). That season, Winters was named NCAC Player of the Year, ranked fifth nationally in assists, and led the Bishops to the NCAC Tournament title en route to landing MVP honors. He also posted the first recorded triple-double in school history with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists vs. Allegheny.

"Andy is one of the best all-around players to ever wear an Ohio Wesleyan uniform," said Mike DeWitt, OWU head coach since 1999. "Just as important as his statistics were his intangible qualities. He was a great leader and teammate, intelligent on the floor and extremely clutch in crucial moments…

"The fact that he earned all of his accolades his senior season, even though he 'only' averaged 14 points per game, is a testament to what others saw in Andy," DeWitt continued. "He was a complete player who could win games in numerous ways. Those same qualities now make him an outstanding coach and leader for the Otterbein program."

Winters was also voted District Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year, first team All-American and earned a selection to play in the NABC/Reese's All-Star Game following that senior campaign. He finished his career with 1,316 points and graduated as the program's all-time leader with 616 assists. Prior to graduation, Winters claimed the Dr. Jay Martin Award as the top senior male student-athlete at OWU.
 
The local product (Bishop Watterson HS) earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan before going into the world of coaching. He was an assistant coach at Ohio Dominican and Capital before assuming the helm at Otterbein in 2019, shortly before the pandemic. The Cardinals have most recently gone 31-20 over the past two years.
 
"I figured out that I wanted to be in this profession because of Coach DeWitt and how his program impacted me," Winters said profoundly. "Now, I work to put my players in an environment to be the most successful. We try to give them freedom to be who they are, while still holding standards and daily habits that contribute to something larger than yourself. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else."

Winters is now part of the 63rd overall class in the history of Ohio Wesleyan Athletics. READ MORE HERE.