Lucious Wagner is an American basketball coach, former professional basketball player, trainer, and entrepreneur based in Evansville, Indiana. A former standout for the University of Evansville Purple Aces, Wagner later played professional basketball in Europe before returning to Evansville, where he founded BlackHeart Basketball, a basketball training and youth development organization.
Through BlackHeart Basketball and his work as a coach and trainer, Wagner has become a prominent figure in Evansville’s youth basketball community.
University of Evansville
Wagner played college basketball at the University of Evansville from 2000 to 2005. After redshirting as a freshman, he eventually became a three-year starter for the Purple Aces.
During his senior season in 2004–05, Wagner served as a team captain and led Evansville in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game, an increase from 8.8 points per game during his junior season. His improvement earned him a spot on the five-player Missouri Valley Conference Most Improved Team.
Wagner was also named an honorable mention selection to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team.
Professional Basketball Career
Following his career at Evansville, Wagner played professional basketball overseas. His professional career included time in Holland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Lebanon and Iceland.
His experience playing internationally would later become an important part of his approach to developing young basketball players in Evansville.
Return to the University of Evansville
Wagner eventually returned to his alma mater when head coach Marty Simmons added him to the University of Evansville men’s basketball staff in 2010 as Director of Basketball Operations.
At the time of Wagner’s hiring, Simmons described his former player as a strong role model for the athletes in the program and pointed to Wagner’s experience as both a Purple Ace and professional basketball player.
Wagner said upon returning to UE that he had considered Evansville his home since his years as a student.
BlackHeart Basketball
After his playing career, Wagner turned his attention toward basketball training and player development.
He founded BlackHeart Basketball, an Evansville-based basketball training organization designed to develop players through detailed instruction, repetition, accountability and an understanding of the game.
Wagner has said that one of the motivations behind BlackHeart was his belief that Southern Indiana had significant basketball talent and that young players could benefit from learning skills and concepts earlier that could help them reach higher levels of the sport.
BlackHeart has grown to offer private instruction, small-group training, team training, camps and other basketball development programs. According to BlackHeart Basketball, Wagner has worked with hundreds of players through his coaching and training programs.
His instruction has included ball handling, shooting, defense, footwork, decision-making and overall basketball IQ, with programs offered for players at different ages and skill levels.
Community Involvement
BlackHeart Basketball has also reflected Wagner’s interest in using basketball as a vehicle for youth development in Evansville.
When Wagner and his family sought to expand the BlackHeart Training Center in 2019, they described a vision that went beyond basketball instruction. Plans for the expanded facility included opportunities for preschool education, tutoring, developmental leagues, life-skills programming, SAT/ACT preparation and other community programs.
Wagner and his family described themselves as Evansville small-business owners who wanted to provide local children with opportunities to succeed and contribute to the development of young people throughout the community.
That community focus has made Wagner’s impact in Evansville extend beyond his own accomplishments as a college and professional basketball player. Through years of training, camps and coaching, he has worked directly with young athletes throughout the Evansville area.
Mater Dei
In 2023, Wagner was named head coach of the Mater Dei High School girls basketball team, succeeding Chad Breeden.
Wagner coached the Wildcats during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. His involvement also extended to the program’s younger players, including running Mater Dei feeder-school basketball camps for elementary and middle-school-aged girls.
He was succeeded as Mater Dei’s head coach by Terry Muensterman in 2025.
Legacy in Evansville Basketball
Wagner’s basketball career has come full circle in Evansville. He arrived in the city as a University of Evansville basketball player, developed into the Purple Aces’ leading scorer and team captain, played professionally overseas, and then returned to the city as a coach, trainer and business owner.
Through BlackHeart Basketball, Wagner has spent years passing his experience on to another generation of Evansville-area players. His combination of playing experience, coaching, youth training and community involvement has made him a recognizable part of the modern Evansville basketball community.