The winningest men’s basketball coach in Carnegie Mellon history has decided to call it a career.
Tony Wingen announced he is retiring after 35 seasons as the Tartans’ head coach.
Wingen amassed 390 wins and led Carnegie Mellon to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2006, ‘09 and ‘24. The Tartans also claimed the University Athletic Association championship in 2005-06, and reached five ECAC postseason tournaments.
“Tony has had a profound and lasting impact on generations of student-athletes,” Josh Centor, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics, said in a statement. “He built a program grounded in integrity, humility and excellence, and has positively impacted the educational experience of hundreds of Tartans through his love for them and the game of basketball. We are forever grateful for his service to Carnegie Mellon.”
During his career, Wingen was recognized as UAA Coach of the Year three times (2004-05, 2005-06, 2023-24) and was named Great Lakes Coach of the Year in 2005-06.
“Words cannot express my thanks to the coaches and players that have helped me build this program over the past 35 years — I love you all,” Wingen said in a statement. “I came to Carnegie Mellon as a young head coach and now I leave as a ‘not-so-young’ retired head coach, but I am incredibly proud of the program that we have built. I look forward to seeing where the program goes from here.”
Before taking the helm at Carnegie Mellon, Wingen was an assistant in 1982 at Springfield College, his alma mater. He also coached at Brown, and the University of the South, where he was the head coach from 1988-90. He compiled 411 wins in his career.
“Tony won many games as our head men’s basketball coach, but his legacy is felt everywhere across our athletics department,” Centor said. “He is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met, and he has always cared deeply about every aspect of this university and our athletics program. Tony Wingen is truly one of the finest human beings I have ever known, and we will miss him dearly.”
Wingen lives in Mt. Lebanon with his wife, Kris. They have three children and five grandchildren.
Carnegie Mellon officials said a national search for Wingen’s successor will begin in the coming days.