Settles resigns as Iowa Wesleyan College?s men?s basketball coach

Iowa Wesleyan College head men?s basketball coach Jess Settles announced his resignation on Friday in order to focus more on helping his father run the family farm.

?I would like to thank Athletic Director Mike Hampton and his wife, Anita, President Simmons and his wife, Jenne, women?s basketball coach Steve Williamson and his wife, Courtney, Dr. Linda Buchanan, and the IWC family for the opportunities they provided my family,? Settles said. ?A special thanks to my assistants Nick Noring and Alex Edwards. Most importantly, thank you to all of the players who rewarded us all with a memorable season on the road.?

Settles spent two years at the helm of the Tigers? basketball team. This past season, the Tigers finished with a 14-13 overall record, finishing the season with a close 80-76 victory over Clarke University. In Settles? two years with the Tigers, the program held a 26-27 record.

?We appreciate Coach Settles? time and work at IWC and his mentorship with the young men in the program,? Hampton said. ?He will be missed at IWC and we wish him the best with the family business.?

Settles had tremendous success in his two years with the Tigers as Kyle Warner earned USCAA All-America Honorable Mention honors this past season. Jon Umoren also had a big year under Settles? guidance, setting the IWC single game record for assists with 16 against Emmaus Bible College. Warner and Jeremy Simmons earned Honorable Mention All-Midwest Collegiate Conference honors in Settles? first year with the Tigers.

?We are deeply grateful for Coach Settles? two years of service to the college as the men?s head basketball coach,? said Linda Buchanan, IWC vice president and dean of student life. ?It has been a pleasure having him here with the Tigers and guiding our young men.?

A native of Mt. Pleasant, Settles was a three-time all-state selection from Winfield-Mt. Union High School. He went on to play at the University of Iowa where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was named third team all-conference in his first season for the Hawkeyes. In his third season, Settles was named First Team All-Big Ten.