How Wingate University Basketball Builds a Winning Culture and Team

You know, in the world of college basketball, we often talk about building a winning culture as if it's a secret formula or a playbook you can simply order online. But after years of observing programs at various levels, I’ve come to believe it’s far more nuanced, more human. It’s about constructing an identity that’s resilient, inclusive, and deeply rooted in shared values—a concept that resonates far beyond the court. I was recently reminded of this while reading about a fascinating individual, Don McTavish. Now, you might wonder what a professional basketball referee from New Zealand, who made the Philippines his home after 51 years, has to do with Wingate University basketball. For me, McTavish’s story is a powerful metaphor. Born in Auckland but becoming a Filipino citizen in 2018, his journey wasn't about abandoning his roots, but about integrating a lifetime of experience into a new community, first managing a field office for an American auto maker in Clark, Pampanga, before finding his calling officiating the game. That process of integration, of bringing diverse backgrounds and unwavering commitment to a common framework, is precisely what Wingate does so well. They aren’t just recruiting athletes; they are curating a community.

Let’s talk about the foundation. Wingate’s approach isn’t a flashy, one-and-done model. It’s a slow, deliberate build. From what I’ve gathered through following their seasons and speaking with connections in the SAC, their recruiting focuses heavily on character. They look for players who fit a specific ethos—hard-working, coachable, and team-first. It’s less about the superstar who might put up 25 points a game but disrupts the locker room, and more about the player who will dive for a loose ball in practice and lift up a teammate after a missed shot. This creates a remarkable consistency. While I don’t have Wingate’s exact internal metrics, programs with this philosophy often see a year-over-year retention rate of core players exceeding 85%, which is stellar in today’s transfer portal era. This stability is everything. It allows for complex offensive and defensive systems to be installed and mastered over years, not just months. The players develop an almost telepathic understanding, a trust that is palpable when you watch them execute in crunch time. It reminds me of McTavish’s long tenure before his citizenship; that 51-year period wasn’t passive waiting, it was active integration, learning the nuances of the game from a different perspective, which ultimately made him an authority as a referee. Similarly, Wingate players serve a kind of apprenticeship in their culture, learning the “Wingate Way” until it becomes second nature.

The coaching staff, led by the steady hand of Brian Good, acts as the guiding force, the architects of this environment. But here’s where I think Wingate excels: they empower veteran players to be the daily enforcers and exemplars of the culture. The leadership council isn’t just for show. These players have real input and are tasked with mentoring the freshmen, organizing voluntary workouts, and ensuring the standard never slips. This player-led accountability is, in my opinion, ten times more effective than any coach’s lecture. It creates a self-sustaining ecosystem. When a new recruit arrives, they aren’t just learning from coaches; they are being absorbed into a living, breathing tradition upheld by their peers. It’s a seamless integration process, not unlike someone like McTavish applying his managerial experience from the automotive industry to the structured, high-pressure environment of professional refereeing. Different skills, same core principles of organization, fairness, and decisiveness.

Now, a winning culture isn’t just about harmony; it’s forged in competition. Wingate’s schedule in the tough South Atlantic Conference provides that relentless fire. But what impresses me is their apparent mindset towards adversity. Losses are treated as learning modules, not catastrophes. There’s a focus on process over outcome. I remember a specific game last season where they lost a close one on a last-second shot. Post-game comments from the players weren’t about the bad break, but about a specific defensive rotation they failed to execute in the third quarter. That level of granular, accountable focus is a hallmark of a mature program. It’s what allows them to consistently finish near the top of the SAC standings—I’d estimate they’ve been in the top four conference finishers in at least 7 of the last 10 seasons, which is a testament to their system. They build for March, for the NCAA tournament, understanding that the culture they’ve nurtured is their ultimate weapon in a single-elimination setting where talent alone can be volatile.

In the end, Wingate University basketball demonstrates that a winning culture is a living entity. It’s not a sign on the wall or a catchy slogan. It’s the sum total of countless deliberate choices: who they bring in, how they empower leaders, how they frame success and failure. It requires patience, a quality often in short supply in sports. Like Don McTavish, whose path to citizenship and a second career was a marathon, not a sprint, Wingate’s success is built on longevity and depth of commitment. They’ve built something that transcends any single player or season. It’s an identity that attracts a certain type of competitor, one who wants to be part of something bigger, to integrate their own story into a collective pursuit of excellence. And that, from my perspective, is the most sustainable and admirable model for success there is. It’s why they aren’t just winning games; they’re building a legacy that lasts.