2021-22 Nighthawk Basketball Coaching Staff
Varsity Head Coach: Brian Wethers -- 8th year Varsity Head Coach, 10th season overall.
Contact information: bwethers@murrieta.k12.ca.us
Wethers enters his fourth season as Head of the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He previously ran two other local high school programs; Calvary Murrieta and Linfield Christian. 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.
Contact information: bwethers@murrieta.k12.ca.us
Wethers enters his fourth season as Head of the Nighthawk Boys Basketball program. He previously ran two other local high school programs; Calvary Murrieta and Linfield Christian. 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.
Program Director/Varsity Assistant Coach: Daniel "Coach D" Millard -- 4th year Program Director/Varsity Assistant Coach, 11th season overall.
Contact information: contactcoachd@yahoo.com
Millard enters his fourth 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 has since, 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.
Contact information: contactcoachd@yahoo.com
Millard enters his fourth 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 has since, 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.
Junior Varsity Head Coach: Doug Hemmerling -- 6th year JV Head Coach, 12th season overall.
Contact information: dhemmerling@murrieta.k12.ca.us
This is Coach Hemmerling’s eleventh 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.
Contact information: dhemmerling@murrieta.k12.ca.us
This is Coach Hemmerling’s eleventh 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.
Junior Varsity Assistant Coach: Deric Wells -- 1st year JV Assistant Coach, 1st season overall.
Contact information:
Coach Wells enters his first season as the Junior Varsity Assistant Coach. Coach Wells is a Nighthawk Basketball alum, who played three Varsity seasons; 1994-1997. He graduated from Murrieta Valley in 1997.
Coach Wells is married to his wife, Jessica. They have six children; Lexi, Jacob, Skylar, Ashton, Caleb, and Brooklyn.
Contact information:
Coach Wells enters his first season as the Junior Varsity Assistant Coach. Coach Wells is a Nighthawk Basketball alum, who played three Varsity seasons; 1994-1997. He graduated from Murrieta Valley in 1997.
Coach Wells is married to his wife, Jessica. They have six children; Lexi, Jacob, Skylar, Ashton, Caleb, and Brooklyn.
Freshman Head Coach: Mark Nielsen -- 5th year Freshman Head Coach, 15th season overall.
Contact information:
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.
Contact information:
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.
