MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[hopefan]

Per Titan Q's Illinois All State listing on the CCIW page, Mac gets 4th Team All State (small schools) Clayton Whitlock, 6'8", Springfield Calvary Academy....   I couldn't find stats, but Calvary  has had two terrific seasons in a row...
if this kid is real, and one has to assume he is if he makes a legit all State team, Mac could be very good next year... with this recruit, Dylan Burton, Clint Lee at point, and the hoped for return of Brady Slagle, the SLIAC newcomer of the year two years ago, it could be a heck of a nucleus.. and they have kids like Bishop, Ozee, Suckow, Busch, Best, and Pettyjohn all of whom saw good minutes last year....   I really feel like we could see Mac, and Blackburn (if everyone comes back and they hire a coach who can put it together) challenge Webster and Westmin this coming season.....
I had heard rumors that Coach Creol might be looking for greener pastures... give it one or two more years coach, things look nice in J-ville.

[allamericanredhead]

memo to FU Admn.: Bad karma is a bitch.

I heard they just fired the new track coach who had been there for like two months, but his bio is still on their athletic website. Maybe they can just blame the graduation speaker fiasco on him. Does this place not a have a board or someone who oversees this mess?

[GC Panther 01]

 Man you skip out for a couple weeks and miss everything.

  For some other news GC coach George Barber had heart bypass surgery yesterday.  From all reports the surgery went great and he came through it in good shape.  He will be kept in intensive care for two days from what I understand.  Keep him and his family in your prayers.  He is a great man who has touched many lives including but no where close to being limited to mine.

[GC Panther 01]

  Hope - tough news about Whitlock to Mac.  GC was also courting him.  6' 8" is an exageration in my opinion more of a 6'6" kid I would say but either way his size and athleticism would have been welcomed at GC for sure.

[hopefan]

Would have been 1st legit big man that Greenville has had in a number of years....

well, just glad to see him in the SLIAC

I know Mac is thrilled.....  have found he ave 15+ ppg, 8 rbds,  and over 3 blocks per game....

[hopefan]

for sure keep Coach Barber in your thoughts and prayers... surprising news to me as his activity on the bench and demeanor when chatting with him gave me no indication that he was a candidate for heart problems.....  very sorry to hear....

[y_jack_lok]

Dennis McKinney posted the following on Facebook this morning: "Fontbonne hires new Basketball Head Coach. An assistant at Benedictine (DIII)."

[hopefan]

well, unfortunately, there are two Benedictine Asst coaches who might be candidates ( assuming we're talking Benedictine in Illinois, not the NAIA Benedictine in Kansas).

Wonder if it's Steve Schafer, who has been an Asst at Benedictine and North Park

or

Frank Janczak, who has also coached at Dominican and North Central...

[y_jack_lok]

I copied the quote directly off Facebook and it says in parenthses at the end "(DIII)" so it seems as though that means the one in Illinois, not the NAIA Benedictine in Kansas.

[y_jack_lok]

Prayers needed for Fontbonne AD Maria Eftink per the following from Dennis McKinney posted on Facebook:

"Important: Everyone knows Maria Eftink AD. at FU. She fell 30 ft this afternoon into a concrete stairwell. She has been in surgery since 6 pm. Multiple skull fractors and facial fractures. Plus a injury of some kind in the hip area. She did speak a few words. An off duty Police Officer found her. Not sure how long it had been. This young lady needs all the prayers possible. I know Dad is looking over her."

[hopefan]

That news is incredible, unbelievable.... Prayers for Maria in addition to Coach Barber...

[Wydown Blvd.]

My goodness. My prayers and tons of them for Maria and Coach Barber.

[hopefan]

Confirmed over on CCIW room that Benedictine Asst, former North Park Asst Steve Shaefer is the new head coach at Fontbonne....   the CCIW guys ought to able to give us a good read on the new leader of the Griffs...

[Gregory Sager]

My goodness. My prayers and tons of them for Maria and Coach Barber.

Mine as well.

Confirmed over on CCIW room that Benedictine Asst, former North Park Asst Steve Shaefer is the new head coach at Fontbonne....   the CCIW guys ought to able to give us a good read on the new leader of the Griffs...

Steve Schafer (note proper spelling) is a solid basketball mind, a strong and energetic recruiter, and an all-around good guy. I think that Fontbonne will embrace him warmly, and that he'll have much success there. He has very big shoes to fill, but I think he'll do well by Coach McKinney's legacy.

[hopefan]

The official Fontbonne announcement on Coach Schafer

Fontbonne hires Steve Schafer as new head men's basketball coach
04/25/2011 10:49am

The Fontbonne University athletic department is pleased it announced its hired Steve Schafer as its new head men's basketball coach. Schafer will become just the second head men's basketball coach in Fontbonne history.

"Fontbonne University is a special place with great people, an excellent academic reputation and a rich basketball tradition. I am humbled and honored to be selected as the new head men's basketball coach," Coach Schafer said. 

Fontbonne University Director of Athletics Maria Eftink said Coach Schafer is an excellent fit for Fontbonne University and brings a wealth of NCAA Div. III experience to the position.

"Fontbonne University is pleased to welcome Coach Steve Schafer to the Fontbonne family," Eftink said.  "Coach Schafer's experience and enthusiasm leave us excited for the future of the program and expanding upon the already rich tradition of Fontbonne basketball."

Coach Schafer comes to Fontbonne from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois where he has served as an assistant coach since 2009. Benedictine won the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) championship this past season and earned a trip to the NCAA Div. III National Basketball Tournament. Benedictine posted a 21-8 overall record and a 13-3 NAC record this season.

Prior to Benedictine, Coach Schafer served as an assistant coach at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois from 2004-2009. Coach Schafer began his coaching year at Augustana College where he served as a student assistant in 2000-2001. He earned his bachelor's degree in speech communications from Augustana College.

After Augustana, Coach Schafer served as a graduate assistant coach at Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska from 2001-2003. After earning his masters in sports management, Coach Schafer stayed as an assistant coach at Wayne State until 2004.

Coach Schafer will begin his duties at Fontbonne immediately and his excited to get to work.

"I would like to thank Dr. Dennis Golden, Dr. Greg Taylor and Athletic Director Maria Eftink for the opportunity to join the Griffin family, "Coach Schafer said. "I think big things are in store for Fontbonne basketball and I am excited to get to work."