2018-19 nighthawk basketball coaching staff
Varsity Head Coach: Brian Wethers -- 6th year Varsity Head Coach, 8th season overall.
Wethers enters his second season as Head of the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He previously ran two other local high school programs; Calvary Murrieta and Linfield Christian. Last season, Wethers was the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of California-Riverside. Wethers attended the University of California-Berkeley (1999-2003) where he was a four-year starter for the Golden Bears. He holds the school record for most points scored in a single NCAA tournament game with 27. After college, he went on to play professionally overseas in numerous countries; Germany, France, Australia, Ukraine, New Zealand and Lebanon. He also spent time in the NBDL with the Bakersfield Jam. While playing in Australia, Wethers led the league in scoring and was named League MVP.
Wethers #25 hangs high above the north-end basket in the Hawk House. During his time at Murrieta Valley, he was a four-year Varsity starter (1995-1999), All-League four years, League MVP as a Junior and Senior, Riverside County Player of the Year his Senior year, All-State his Senior year and a Top-25 National Recruit. Wethers remains the programs all-time leading scorer.
Wethers is married to his wife, Meghan and they have two children; Victoria and Donovan.
Wethers enters his second season as Head of the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He previously ran two other local high school programs; Calvary Murrieta and Linfield Christian. Last season, Wethers was the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of California-Riverside. Wethers attended the University of California-Berkeley (1999-2003) where he was a four-year starter for the Golden Bears. He holds the school record for most points scored in a single NCAA tournament game with 27. After college, he went on to play professionally overseas in numerous countries; Germany, France, Australia, Ukraine, New Zealand and Lebanon. He also spent time in the NBDL with the Bakersfield Jam. While playing in Australia, Wethers led the league in scoring and was named League MVP.
Wethers #25 hangs high above the north-end basket in the Hawk House. During his time at Murrieta Valley, he was a four-year Varsity starter (1995-1999), All-League four years, League MVP as a Junior and Senior, Riverside County Player of the Year his Senior year, All-State his Senior year and a Top-25 National Recruit. Wethers remains the programs all-time leading scorer.
Wethers is married to his wife, Meghan and they have two children; Victoria and Donovan.
Varsity Assistant Coach: Scott Fields -- 4th year Varsity Assistant Coach, 14th season overall.
Fields enters his third season as a Varsity Assistant Coach in the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He previously spent time as a Freshmen Assistant Coach and Junior Varsity Head Coach. Fields works at Murrieta Valley as Campus Security and is a Nighthawk alum (1993-1997). He and his wife, Alanna will celebrate 16 years of marriage this September.
Fields enters his third season as a Varsity Assistant Coach in the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He previously spent time as a Freshmen Assistant Coach and Junior Varsity Head Coach. Fields works at Murrieta Valley as Campus Security and is a Nighthawk alum (1993-1997). He and his wife, Alanna will celebrate 16 years of marriage this September.
Program Director/Coach: Daniel "Coach D" Millard -- 2nd year Program Director/Coach, 9th season overall.
Millard enters his second season in the Nighthawk Basketball Program. He worked previously in the greater Los Angeles area, working with both at risk, as well as, general youth mentorship and basketball programs across the county. He recently relocated back to the Murrieta area, where he once attended Murrieta Valley High School for a couple of years during the late 1990s. Since returning, he has continued his passion of working with the communities youth for greater development. He has two young sons; Ethan and Jaden. Coach D is thrilled to once again be apart of the Nighthawk Family.
Millard enters his second season in the Nighthawk Basketball Program. He worked previously in the greater Los Angeles area, working with both at risk, as well as, general youth mentorship and basketball programs across the county. He recently relocated back to the Murrieta area, where he once attended Murrieta Valley High School for a couple of years during the late 1990s. Since returning, he has continued his passion of working with the communities youth for greater development. He has two young sons; Ethan and Jaden. Coach D is thrilled to once again be apart of the Nighthawk Family.
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ryan "Bulldog" Shrader -- 4th year Strength & Conditioning Coach, 4th season overall.
Shrader is a graduate of Murrieta Valley's Class of 1997. He spent four years in the Nighthawk Basketball program, three seasons on the Varsity level. Shrader's commitment to the game, his teammates and the weight room earned him the Mr. Hustle award three times. The award was changed his Senior season from Mr. Hustle to the Bulldog Award and it is still given out every year on the Varsity level.
Shrader is a graduate of Murrieta Valley's Class of 1997. He spent four years in the Nighthawk Basketball program, three seasons on the Varsity level. Shrader's commitment to the game, his teammates and the weight room earned him the Mr. Hustle award three times. The award was changed his Senior season from Mr. Hustle to the Bulldog Award and it is still given out every year on the Varsity level.
Team Manager: Andrew Hernandez -- 4th year Varsity Team Manager, 4th season overall.
Andrew is a Junior at Murrieta Valley High School. He has been the Varsity Team Manager since his Freshman year. Andrew has dwarfism, specifically a type called Achondroplasia. Andrew states, "If I did not have Achondroplasia, I would be playing basketball, instead of being the Varsity Team Manager. I love the game and will do anything that I can to help the guys in the program". Andrew plays a vital role within the program and we are extremely grateful for all that he does.
Andrew is a Junior at Murrieta Valley High School. He has been the Varsity Team Manager since his Freshman year. Andrew has dwarfism, specifically a type called Achondroplasia. Andrew states, "If I did not have Achondroplasia, I would be playing basketball, instead of being the Varsity Team Manager. I love the game and will do anything that I can to help the guys in the program". Andrew plays a vital role within the program and we are extremely grateful for all that he does.
Junior Varsity Head Coach: Doug Hemmerling -- 3rd year JV Head Coach, 10th season overall.
This is Coach Hemmerling’s 5th season with the Nighthawks. He previously led the 13’-14’ Freshman team to an impressive 24-1 season before taking the 14’-15’ season off to complete his teaching credential. Coach Hemmerling would like to thank his wife, Meghan, daughter Logan and son Ty, for all the sacrifices they have made allowing him to follow his passion in teaching and coaching.
This is Coach Hemmerling’s 5th season with the Nighthawks. He previously led the 13’-14’ Freshman team to an impressive 24-1 season before taking the 14’-15’ season off to complete his teaching credential. Coach Hemmerling would like to thank his wife, Meghan, daughter Logan and son Ty, for all the sacrifices they have made allowing him to follow his passion in teaching and coaching.
Freshmen Head Coach: Mark Nielsen -- 5th year Freshmen Head Coach, 13th season overall.
Coach Nielsen enters his fifth season as the Freshman Head Coach in the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He has been coaching in the Southwestern League for twelve seasons in both; basketball and baseball. Coach Nielsen has coached Freshman Baseball at MV, Freshman and Varsity Basketball at Murrieta Mesa and Murrieta Valley.
Nielsen graduated from Lakewood High School where he played Varsity basketball for three seasons and was apart of their 1982 CIF Championship team. He made All-CIF, All-League, All-City and All-South Bay. He earned a 4-year basketball scholarship to Cal Poly Pomona and played one season professionally overseas in China.
Nielsen is retired, married to his wife, Margarete and has three children. His son, Kyle, graduated from MV and played baseball at Cal Poly Pomona. His daughter, Katelyn, graduated from MV and earned a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton for Volleyball. Katelyn begins Med School in the fall. His daughter, Maggie, is currently a Senior at MV and received a scholarship from Azusa Pacific for Volleyball.
Coach Nielsen enters his fifth season as the Freshman Head Coach in the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He has been coaching in the Southwestern League for twelve seasons in both; basketball and baseball. Coach Nielsen has coached Freshman Baseball at MV, Freshman and Varsity Basketball at Murrieta Mesa and Murrieta Valley.
Nielsen graduated from Lakewood High School where he played Varsity basketball for three seasons and was apart of their 1982 CIF Championship team. He made All-CIF, All-League, All-City and All-South Bay. He earned a 4-year basketball scholarship to Cal Poly Pomona and played one season professionally overseas in China.
Nielsen is retired, married to his wife, Margarete and has three children. His son, Kyle, graduated from MV and played baseball at Cal Poly Pomona. His daughter, Katelyn, graduated from MV and earned a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton for Volleyball. Katelyn begins Med School in the fall. His daughter, Maggie, is currently a Senior at MV and received a scholarship from Azusa Pacific for Volleyball.
