Ernie Nestor steps out of bounds • Rest in Peace

[Jack Strop]

Good ol' boy Ernie Nestor passed away a week ago at the age of 78.

Mason men's basketball head coach from 1988 – 1993. Riding Coach Rick Barnes's coat tails from the team's NIT bid in 1988, Ernie led the team to its first NCAA Tournament game in 1989, and then the team collapsed.

I remember him for the NCAA Tournament bid and the fight between centers Craig Hodges and Byron Tucker during practice that led to Tucker's expulsion from the team. Then one season later, Hodges walks off the court at halftime of a game and quits on the team.

I guess Nestor, despite being a coach's coach, was not much of a head coach. But people liked him and there's A LOT to be said for that.

Cheers to Ernie!!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/01/31/ernie-nestor-dies-george-mason-wake-forest/

 

[GMU79]

I only got to one game during Nestor's Mason stint, but it was a win. CAA tourney at the Richmond Coliseum. We beat UNC Wilmington. I heard a UNCW fan on the way out say "I hate Mason!"
Good times!

 

[Pikapppatri8]

This actually brings a bit of a tear to my eye -- he was the coach while I was at Mason. Rest well sir. 78 just seems young.

 

[GMU79]

Yes.