Honors and Awards
• 2025-26 PSAC East Coach of the Year
On April 3, 2009, Justin Namolik was named Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Shepherd University.
During the 2025-26 season, the team finished tied for first in the PSAC East division with a 15-6 conference record and Namolik was named Coach of the Year in the east division. The first place finish was the highest finish since joining the PSAC in 2019. The Rams finished with a 20-10 overall record, the second consecutive season with 20 or more wins. The back-to-back 20-win seasons are Shepherd’s first since 1984. The Rams finished first in the PSAC in scoring defense (69.9 points per game) and three-point field goal percentage (36.5 3FG pct.)
In 17 seasons at Shepherd, Namolik has led the Rams to a 257-239 overall record. In Shepherd history, he ranks second in victories and fourth in winning percentage.
Coaching Records – Winning Percentage
| W.R. Legge |
1921-1925 |
54-23 |
70.1% |
| Bob Starkey |
1968-1988 |
360-204 |
63.8% |
| John Newcome |
1925-1937 |
133-102 |
56.6% |
| Justin Namolik |
2008-Present |
257-239 |
51.8% |
Namolik has coached three other teams that finished the season with 19 or more wins.
The 2024-25 team posted a 21-11 overall record and advanced to the championship game of the PSAC tournament. The championship game appearance was just the fifth in Shepherd history and the first since the 1992 team won the WVIAC tournament. The Rams were one of the best defensive teams in the country in 2025, ranking ninth in the nation (first in PSAC) in scoring defense (64.3 points per game) and ranking fourth in the nation (first in PSAC) in field goal percentage defense (39.1 FG pct. per game).
The 2016-17 team posted a 19-11 record, finished fourth in conference, and advanced to the semi-finals of the Mountain East tournament. It was the first time the Rams advanced to the semi-finals of a conference tournament since 1997. The Rams finished first in the Mountain East in scoring defense (72.0 points per game).
The 2013-14 team posted a 20-10 record and finished third in conference. The twenty wins were the most since 1992 and the third place finish is the highest finish since the Rams finished third in 1994.
Since April 2009, Namolik’s recruited student-athletes have collectively garnered one All-American honor, two All-District honors, three All-Region honors, and twenty-six All-Conference honors. Six players have continued their career playing professionally overseas – AJ Carr (England), Kyle Daggett (Australia), Logan Holloman (England), Thomas Lang (Chile), Brantley Osborne (Spain), and Chase Paar (Austria). Thirty-nine of thirty-nine student-athletes who have completed their eligibility under Namolik have earned their degree at Shepherd.
During the 2008-2009 season as interim head coach, Namolik led the Rams to a 13-16 overall mark with an 11-9 conference record, including wins over #22 Pitt-Johnstown on January 3, 2009 and West Virginia State on January 7, 2009, the Yellow Jackets only loss in the WVIAC regular season.
He was an assistant coach with the Rams from 2006-08 and helped lead the Rams to a 32-26 record and Shepherd’s first back-to-back winning seasons in 14 years. He coached All-WVIAC First Team Danley Shank and was instrumental in recruiting Liki Turner, the 2008 WVIAC Freshman of the Year
Prior to Shepherd, Namolik was the top assistant coach at Saint Vincent College for three seasons, where he helped lead the Bearcats to a 68-24 record and two “Sweet Sixteen” appearances in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. The 2004-05 team finished the season ranked #4 in NAIA Division II, 25-5 overall, and 14-0 in the AMC, becoming only the second team in the 56 year history of the conference to go undefeated in the regular season, joining the 1982-83 Walsh team coached by Bob Huggins. Namolik coached All-Americans Tony Washam and Kenny Roberts and All-AMC First Team Jeff Mallory.
Namolik played collegiately at Columbia University of the Ivy League for Armond Hill, a Princeton alum, former NBA player, and former NBA assistant coach. Namolik was a four-year starter and is currently ranked 23rd on the all-time scoring list with 1,049 career points. At the conclusion of his senior year, he received the Walter H. Benson Award, given to the Columbia basketball player who exemplifies spirit, hustle, and determination.
A West Virginia native, Namolik was a First Team All-State performer for Wheeling Park High School and during his senior year, he helped lead the team to a 24-2 record, a #1 ranking in state, and the 1995 AAA West Virginia State Championship.
Prior to his coaching career, Namolik worked on Wall St. and traded NASDAQ stocks for Heartland Securities for three years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Columbia University and a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Vincent College.
He resides in Shepherdstown with his wife Kerri, their daughters Lilah and Scarlett, and their dog Leyda.
