George Wigton

In 1956, Wigton joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut as an associate professor of physical education and athletic coach.^[6] In 1962, he became the lead assistant coach of the varsity men's basketball team and the head freshman football coach following the departure of Nick Rodis.^[10] He became acting men's basketball coach following Hugh Greer's unexpected death on January 14, 1963.^[11] He led the team to an 11–4 record and an appearance in the 1963 NCAA University Division basketball tournament.^[12] Wigton was considered for the head coaching job, but Duke assistant Fred Shabel was chosen instead. Wigton remained with the team as an assistant.^[13] He left the following year to become the head basketball and assistant football coach at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut.^[14]

In 1965, Wigton became the men's basketball coach at Bates College. He was the school's longest-tenured basketball coach, compiling a 175–275 record from 1965 to 1986.^[15] He was also the men's tennis coach for 26 years, making him Bates' longest-tenured coach in that sport as well. He led the Bobcats to a New England Small College Athletic Conference men's tennis championship in 1988. Additionally, he coached men's soccer from 1965 to 1972, women's tennis for eight years, and was the varsity men's squash coach from the program's founding in 1986 until his retirement in 1996. He coached four All-Americans in three sports (Rob Thompson in soccer, Paul Gastonguay and Bud Schultz in tennis, and Herb Taylor in basketball).^[8]

Wigton remained in Auburn, Maine following his retirement. In 2002, the George L. Wigton Scholar Fund was created in recognition of his tenure at Bates.^[16] Wigton died on March 1, 2022.^[8]