| Elmhurst athletics photo |
After 17 years at the helm of the Elmhurst men's basketball team, Mark Scherer has announced his retirement from coaching. Scherer, who guided Elmhurst to its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship in 2001, is relocating to Eureka, Ill., to be with his family full time.
"There have been so many high points over the years that I feel
extremely blessed," said Scherer. "I would like to take this
opportunity to thank our players, assistant coaches, fellow
co-workers, administration, faculty, friends and Bluejay fans for
the wonderful support they have shown during the past 17 seasons.
We have had a great run but now it is time to open a new
chapter."
Scherer joined the Bluejays prior to the start of the 1996-97
season and leaves with a career record of 245-189. He holds
Elmhurst coaching records for career victories, career winning
percentage (.564) and single-season victories (22). Scherer guided
the Bluejays to 20-win seasons on three occasions, also an Elmhurst
record.
In 2001, he led the Bluejays to their most successful season in school history. The squad finished the year with a 22-5 overall record, won its first-ever CCIW Championship, advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and were ranked ninth in the final D3hoops.com poll. Scherer was named both the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Coach of the Year and the Division III Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA).
In 2009, Scherer was named the Division III Co-Coach of the Year by the IBCA after guiding the Bluejays to an NCAA Tournament appearance. The squad finished the year with a 20-8 overall record and ranked 14th in the final D3hoops.com poll.
Scherer's teams have produced winning records in 10 of his 17 seasons. His players have totaled 32 all-conference, five All-American, and one Academic All-America honors. Three of his former players have played professionally overseas.
"I'd like to thank Mark Scherer for the 17 years of dedicated service to Elmhurst College and the basketball program," said Elmhurst athletic director Paul Krohn. "Mark's teams had tremendous success both at the conference level and on the national stage and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors."
A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.