NASHVILLE – This season the Trevecca Nazarene University men's and women's basketball teams are playing in a new conference, the Gulf South Conference. As the teams launch a new era of basketball On the Hill and in Trojan Fieldhouse, they want to acknowledge those who paved the way and created unforgettable memories and relationships over the years.
With that in mind, we are welcoming back Frank Wilson, Ron Bargatze, Gary Van Atta, Julie van Beek Heisey, and Sam Harris for selected games this season, inviting all their players, support staff, and fans to join us for a night of reminiscing those unforgettable moments and relationships. In addition, the 2004-05 and 2005-06 men's basketball teams will be remembered with a special night as well.
DEC. 14 (Saturday) Tickets vs West Alabama
Trevecca vs West Alabama (2:00 PM / 4:00 PM)
Sam Harris / Frank Wilson Era Teams
JAN. 23 (Thursday) Tickets vs Montevallo
Trevecca vs Montevallo (5:30 PM / 7:30 PM)
Gary Van Atta and Ron Bargatze Era Teams
FEB. 15 (Saturday) Tickets vs Lee
Trevecca vs Lee University (2:00 PM / 4:00 PM)
Julie van Beek Heisey Era Teams and The 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Men's Basketball Teams
Below you'll find more details, but we ask that if you are planning to attend, you reach out and let us know so we can prepare to host you on these special nights. Email athletics@trevecca.edu with your name and contact information. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon On the Hill and back in Trojan Fieldhouse.
- DEC. 14 (Saturday)
Trevecca vs West Alabama (2:00 PM / 4:00 PM)
Sam Harris / Frank Wilson Era Teams
Both Frank Wilson and Sam Harris have agreed to attend the game and join their former players in a reception in the balcony of Trojan Fieldhouse on the side behind the team benches.
Sam Harris – led the Trevecca men for 25 years and racked up a program best 376 wins. Four of his Purple and White squads reached the NAIA Championships with three of those four reaching the Sweet 16. He guided the program to six 20 win seasons. The 2005 and 2006 teams won 25 and 26 games respectively and advanced to the NAIA Championships Sweet 16.
Frank Wilson led the men's program to 285 wins over his 14 seasons and guided the program to its first appearance at the NAIA National Championships. His 1987 squad advanced to the Elite Eight, still the furthest any men's team has advanced. He led the program to its first 20-win season, then repeated the feat another seven times including the programs only 30 win season (1987).
All players and fans of the teams coached by Frank Wilson and Sam Harris are invited to come enjoy and evening with their coach and teammates while the current Trojans take on West Alabama.
- JAN. 23 (Thursday)
Trevecca vs Montevallo (5:30 PM / 7:30 PM)
Gary Van Atta and Ron Bargatze Era Teams
Gary Van Atta and Ron Bargatze have agreed to attend the Trevecca games with the University of Montevallo and join their former players in a reception in the balcony of Trojan Fieldhouse on the side behind the team benches.
Interesting side note, Van Atta has coached Montevallo twice and is their winningest coach. He is in their athletic hall of fame. The current Montevallo women's coach is Olivia Chapman who previously was an assistant at Trevecca. She was hired as an assistant by Van Atta at Montevallo and was hired to replace him a year ago when he resigned to return to Middle Tennessee.
Gary Van Atta – led the women's program to the NAIA Championship game in 2008, still the only Trojan program to play for a national title. He played for the men's program and captained the 1978-79 team coached by Ron Bargatze. As a coach, he is the winningest coach in Trevecca history, going 216-120 overall and 116-50 in league play. He produced six 20+ win seasons including going 31-5 in his first season, still the most wins in program history. His first five teams all went to the NAIA National Championships. Five of those teams reached the Sweet 16 or better. In the NCAA era, he led the team to the Great Midwest regular season title the first two seasons and reached the G-MAC Finals both seasons.
Ron Bargatze -
He came to Trevecca from Vanderbilt University and in his one season, 1978-79, won the most games in program history and made noise with his recruiting efforts and collecting historic "first" wins in program history. His first win was the program's first win over Don Meyer and Lipscomb University. His second win came on a neutral court against a seventh-ranked Cumberland College (Ky.) team. He guided Trevecca to a program-first win over Belmont University, his alma mater. He recruited or coached five 1,000-point scorers at Trevecca - Melvin Taylor (2079), Calvin Holmes (1289), Greg Pemberton (1284), Fred Harris (1154), and Roosevelt Burrell (1484) all played for or were recruited by coach Bargatze. Taylor was the first 2000-point scorer in Trevecca history. Gary Van Atta, the starting post player, served as the team captain. Those players helped start the Frank Wilson era on sound footing, leading to Wilson guiding the Trojans to nine consecutive winning seasons.
All players and fans of the teams coached by Gary Van Atta and Ron Bargatze are invited to come enjoy and evening with their coach and teammates while the current Trojans take on the University of Montevallo.
- FEB. 15 (Saturday)
Trevecca vs Lee University (2:00 PM / 4:00 PM)
Julie van Beek Heisey Era Teams and The 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Men's Basketball Teams
Julie van Beek Heisey and Sam Harris have agreed to attend the Trevecca games versus Lee University and join their former players in a reception in the balcony of Trojan Fieldhouse on the side behind the team benches.
The 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Men's Basketball Teams - For the men's game, current coach Kevin Carroll is honoring the 2004-2005 team that coach Sam Harris led to a 25-8 record and a trip to the NAIA National Championships. The team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen that season. Because the roster and results of the 2005-2006 season overlapped significantly, the roster of that team is also encouraged to join the reunion. The 2005-2006 team went 26-7 and also advanced to the NAIA National Championship Sweet Sixteen.
The 2004-05 team included - Wesley Poe, Marcos Salvi, David Harris, Brandon Howard, Josh Helton, Jerod Perry, Alex Renfroe, Collins Onyando, Eric Price, Robert Garrett, Lee Pardue, Lance Mathis, Adam Asberry, Zech Teague, Archie Weston, Justin Millsaps. The additions for the 2005-06 roster included Nick Watson, Adam Drake, Christopher Harris, William Henry, and Brian Odur.
A big part of the story of the 2004-2005 team was the passing of Robert Garrett prior to the start of that season in an automobile accident. Now, the passing of Josh Helton in the summer of 2024 has taken another member of that remarkable season. Both families, who were tremendous supporters of the program, have been invited to join us for this evening to represent both men.
Julie van Beek Heisey – led the restart of the women's basketball program at Trevecca and led the team to national recognition in just four years in what was one of if not the strongest conference in the NAIA. Her teams went 162-119 overall. In year four, she led the team to a 24-9 record and earned the program's first national ranking and a trip to the NAIA National Championships, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. It started a run of six years advancing to the NAIA Championships. In her final season, she led the team to the NAIA Elite Eight. Coach van Beek coached four 20-win teams and had seven winning seasons. She coached numerous All-Americans and several of her players have joined her in the Trevecca Athletic Hall of Fame.
All players and fans of the teams coached by Julie van Beek Heisey and those who played, coached, or supported the 2004-05 and 2005-06 men's basketball teams are invited to come enjoy an evening with their coach and teammates while the current Trojans take on the Lee University.
If you are able to attend, we encourage you to reach out to and let us know by emailing athletics@trevecca.edu. This will help us prepare to host everyone at each of these evenings. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon On the Hill and back in Trojan Fieldhouse.
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