By james art 
Nestor had three separate stints as an assistant at Winston-Salem.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ernie Nestor, a longtime Wake Forest assistant and former Elon head coach, died Sunday morning at age 78.
Nestor, who grew up in West Virginia, first joined the Demon Deacons as an assistant coach under Carl Tracy from 1979-1985 and then again under head coach Dave Odom from 1993-2001. In 2018 he returned to Winston-Salem as a special assistant under former head coach Danny Manning.
“I had the good fortune to sit down and visit with Coach Nestor this past June at the Jay Bilas Coaching Academy,” Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes said in a statement. “Ernie loved to talk basketball and loved helping younger coaches by sharing his vast knowledge and experience in a kind and thoughtful manner. It became very clear to me during our conversation that he loved his time at Wake Forest. Johnetta and I extend our deepest thoughts and condolences to Nestor’s family during their time of need.’
After graduating from West Virginia University in 10970, Nestor began his coaching career at the high school level in West Virginia and Virginia. His first college job came as an assistant at James Madison from 1976-79.
After leaving Wake Forest in 1985, Nestor joined California as an assistant from 1985-88. He then took his first head coaching job at George Mason, where he went 68-81 in five seasons with the Patriots and made the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
In 1993 he returns to Wake Forest for his second stint as an assistant. During that span, the Demon Deacons made five NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight success in 1996. thanks to future NBA players Tim Duncan and Rusty LaRue.
“It’s impossible to put into just a few words what Ernie was to me and what he was to Wake Forest,” said Odom, Wake’s head coach from 1990-2001. “He was a special person and a special coach at a time when Wake Forest really needed someone like him. He was special in every way. I’ve always thought you get to know the true measure of a man when you get a chance to sit next to him on the bench at The Joel Coliseum with all the big names coming in. As a head coach, you need someone right next to you who you can trust and who you are not afraid of. He was that person for me. He was truly amazing. A special, special person and a special friend. When you try to sum it all up, the most important part is that Ernie loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved ball.
“A great coach, an amazing mentor and person and a wonderful friend. We will miss you Coach!” General Manager Mike Muse posted on X.
Nestor spent time at South Carolina as an assistant from 2001-03 before taking on his second coaching gig, this time with Elon. He was 67-117 with Phoenix, but Nestor led Elon to the 2005-06 Southern Conference regular-season title. He was also named the 2006 Southern Conference Coach of the Year.
“We are saddened to share the passing of former Elon men’s basketball coach Ernie Nestor,” Elon’s Mens Basketball posted on X. “Coach Nestor led Phoenix from 2003-09, leaving a lasting legacy on and off the court. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew him.”
After leaving Elon in 2009, Nestor spent a year as a scout for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. He would go on to be an assistant at three more college teams — Penn State, Missouri and Navy — before announcing his retirement in 2017.
“We lost not only a coach, but a great man who taught us more than just basketball,” said former Wake Forest player Randolph Childress. “Coach Nestor taught me discipline, endurance and the power of faith. Its impact transcended the game, shaping who we are as people. I will carry these lessons with me forever. I used to say Coach Nestor never had a bad day. He was always positive. He will be missed.”
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