Bowling Green, Ky. – UPIKE women's basketball Associate Head Coach Shelby Wheeler was named the Mid-South Conference 2022 Female Coaching for Significance award winner Thursday morning. The annual awards recognize the top coaches, student-athletes and administrators on both performance, community service, and service in the field.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the conference for this award," wrote Wheeler, "it's a great reflection of our program and the young women who make it what it is. I'm genuinely grateful to get to do this at an institution that supports us in holistic development, and challenges us to be better each year. Keeping the focus on Human. Student. Athlete."

Anyone familiar with the Bears women's basketball program understands the impact Coach Wheeler has. Entering her sixth season in 2022, and her third season as Associate Head Coach, Shelby has developed a reputation of integrity and compassion.
One of the most important standards a coach can have is one of modeling the behavior you expect from your student-athletes, something coach Wheeler displays day in and day out. Mentoring student-athletes in areas mostly outside of basketball, coach teaches personal accountability, leadership skills, and communication.

"When I first met Coach, I noticed right away her hard work and love for her players. She contributes to our well-being on and off the court. Coach served as my one-on-one mentor this past year. She taught me how to properly manage my time, taught me that breaks are needed, and how to eat more nutritiously. Most importantly, she has taught me patience. Many of our conversations had nothing to do with basketball. She checked in on my well-being, my mental state, and my outside life."

– Bailey Frazier, Junior Forward

Her resume offers a view into her nature, a member of several committees and programs including: Women's Basketball Coaches Association, Rising Coaches, and Grow the Game. At UPIKE, Wheeler serves as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) advisor and was named Senior Woman Administrator in the summer of 2021.

The Bears found success in 2021-22, earning a trip to the opening round of the NAIA Women's Basketball Championships after finishing the season with an overall record of 19-14 (11-11 MSC).