Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders mourn the loss of former coach Randy Wiel
10/15/2025 2:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Randy Wiel, the head coach of the Middle Tennessee men's basketball program from 1996-2002, passed away on October 14.
Born April 21, 1951, in Curacao, Wiel led his teams to 84 wins throughout his tenure, including 57 in the Murphy Center, which ranks fifth all-time in Middle Tennessee history. He guided his team to four-straight Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinal appearances and oversaw the transition from the OVC to the Sun Belt Conference in 2000. Wiel coached his teams to two 19-win seasons, while also aiding in the development of 1,000-point scorers Lee Nosse and Tommy Gunn and seeing 10 of his student-athletes be named to all-conference teams.
"Randy played a meaningful role in our athletic history," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the many players whose lives he impacted. He will always be fondly remembered as a Blue Raider."
After leaving Murfreesboro, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers organization as a scout from 2002-04.
Wiel came to Middle Tennessee after three seasons as head coach at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he took a struggling program and steadily raised it to contender status in the Big South Conference. His success with the Bulldogs saw him named Big South Conference Coach of the Year following the 1995-96 season.
He began his coaching career under Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina as the assistant coach for a seven-year stint. During his time coaching the Tar Heels, the team won the 1993 national championship, two Atlantic Coast Conference titles and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 seven times. Prior to joining the coaching staff, Wiel lettered four years as a Tar Heel, winning three ACC titles and advancing to the NCAA championship game.
On the international circuit, he played professional basketball in Europe for six seasons, primarily for the Dutch National Team. He was the third-leading scorer in the Dutch Basketball Federation in 1980-81 with 765 points. Wiel also played on the Dutch team that was unbeaten and finished first in the European B Championships. He was selected to coach the Netherlands National Team as part of the preparation for the 1992 Olympics, finishing third in a six-time field at the pre-Olympic qualifying.
Outside of basketball, he competed as a sprinter in the 1968 Olympics and as a swimmer in the 1967 Pan-American Games. Wiel was also an accomplished musician, playing both the guitar and trumpet, as well as fluent in six languages: English, Dutch, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Papiamento. He had an avid interest in horses, owning nine Paso Fino horses, including two who have won national championships.
Arrangements are currently being planned by the Wiel family.
Born April 21, 1951, in Curacao, Wiel led his teams to 84 wins throughout his tenure, including 57 in the Murphy Center, which ranks fifth all-time in Middle Tennessee history. He guided his team to four-straight Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinal appearances and oversaw the transition from the OVC to the Sun Belt Conference in 2000. Wiel coached his teams to two 19-win seasons, while also aiding in the development of 1,000-point scorers Lee Nosse and Tommy Gunn and seeing 10 of his student-athletes be named to all-conference teams.
"Randy played a meaningful role in our athletic history," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the many players whose lives he impacted. He will always be fondly remembered as a Blue Raider."
After leaving Murfreesboro, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers organization as a scout from 2002-04.
Wiel came to Middle Tennessee after three seasons as head coach at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he took a struggling program and steadily raised it to contender status in the Big South Conference. His success with the Bulldogs saw him named Big South Conference Coach of the Year following the 1995-96 season.
He began his coaching career under Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina as the assistant coach for a seven-year stint. During his time coaching the Tar Heels, the team won the 1993 national championship, two Atlantic Coast Conference titles and reached the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 seven times. Prior to joining the coaching staff, Wiel lettered four years as a Tar Heel, winning three ACC titles and advancing to the NCAA championship game.
On the international circuit, he played professional basketball in Europe for six seasons, primarily for the Dutch National Team. He was the third-leading scorer in the Dutch Basketball Federation in 1980-81 with 765 points. Wiel also played on the Dutch team that was unbeaten and finished first in the European B Championships. He was selected to coach the Netherlands National Team as part of the preparation for the 1992 Olympics, finishing third in a six-time field at the pre-Olympic qualifying.
Outside of basketball, he competed as a sprinter in the 1968 Olympics and as a swimmer in the 1967 Pan-American Games. Wiel was also an accomplished musician, playing both the guitar and trumpet, as well as fluent in six languages: English, Dutch, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Papiamento. He had an avid interest in horses, owning nine Paso Fino horses, including two who have won national championships.
Arrangements are currently being planned by the Wiel family.
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