As the only head coach in the history of Wheelock men's basketball, John Preziosa returns for his fifth season in 2011-12. Since guiding the program's inaugural team in 2007-08, Preziosa's charges have qualified for the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Tournament each of the past three winters, advancing as far as the semifinal round twice.

In 2010-11, the Wildcats downed perennial regional heavyweight Emerson College, 66-49, on Jan. 19 after taking part in the early-season Castle Classic at Manhattanville College, where they held close with No. 22 Plattsburgh State University until the latter portion of the contest. Wheelock fell just 68-61 to Newbury College in an NECC Tournament quarterfinal.

During the 2009-10 season, Wheelock downed defending NECC Tournament champion and 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier Elms College, 87-82, in overtime on Jan. 30 before advancing as far as the NECC Tournament semifinals, where it fell shy, 66-62, against the Blazers, who eventually repeated as titlists. The Wildcats also earned their first regular-season tournament crown, claiming the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth's Hampton Inn Classic in November. Wheelock finished the year at 16-11 overall and 8-6 in the league.

Preziosa's charges posted a 7-7 NECC mark in 2008-09, when they claimed their first postseason victory, a 105-91 triumph against Mitchell College on Feb. 24 in an NECC Tournament quarterfinal. In 2007-08, Preziosa coached the team to its first victory in school history, a 65-63 win over Eastern Nazarene College on Nov. 27.

Preziosa provided prior college head coaching experience after guiding Bunker Hill Community College for three seasons, including leading the team to its first National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXI championship in 2005, when it made its initial national tournament appearance and finished eighth in the country. Bunker Hill fell to the eventual Division III runner-up, Joliet (Ill.) Junior College, 67-56, during the opening round. While at Bunker Hill, Preziosa compiled a 51-28 record, earning NJCAA District 8 Coach of the Year honors in 2005.

Prior to coming to Wheelock, Preziosa spent two years as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Salem State University, where he helped lead the team to a 42-11 record and an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. He also coached the Northeast boys' team to a bronze medal in the 2006 Bay State Summer Games and a silver medal in 2007.

Preziosa played basketball collegiately at Bunker Hill from 1990 to 1992, earning the team's most improved player award in 1992. He resides in Melrose with his wife, Gina, and sons, Marino and Gino.