MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Gregory Sager]

I'm not terribly surprised by this. Best wishes to Mark Scherer in his future endeavors. The last few seasons shouldn't be held against him, as he definitely set the gold standard for Elmhurst basketball during his tenure there.

[CCIW ALUM]

Dennis,

I think you need to look at the History books Dr John (84) Grad from NCC was part of Bill Warden's first team to make the NCAA Tournament in 1983-84. Lost to UW Whitewater the first night and beat Illinois Wesleyan the second night (when they play a consolation game) so he has been a part of NCAA History. And even further Dr. John won a National Championship at Rowan!

[Gregory Sager]

And, D-3 Watcher, your offer to keep your hotel rooms for NCC fans to take was a great gesture......I know that you sent the same offer to the NCC coaches.  I have to be honest.....I'm not sure that would have been my first thought if NCC had lost.

I would have taken you up on your offer, but I think the rooms you had were too far from the team hotel.  But, thanks anyway.

... not to mention the fact that the hotel rooms he reserved include beds that have too much space between the headboard and the wall.

[TitansIWU]

And, D-3 Watcher, your offer to keep your hotel rooms for NCC fans to take was a great gesture......I know that you sent the same offer to the NCC coaches.  I have to be honest.....I'm not sure that would have been my first thought if NCC had lost.

I would have taken you up on your offer, but I think the rooms you had were too far from the team hotel.  But, thanks anyway.

... not to mention the fact that the hotel rooms he reserved include beds that have too much space between the headboard and the wall.

nice one. 

[AndOne]

ELMHURST, Ill. -- After 17 years at the helm of the Elmhurst College 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.
New coach at Elmhurst

Taken off the CCIW website.
"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 final national 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.

Scherer came to Elmhurst with six years of experience at the NCAA Division I level. He spent four seasons at Valparaiso University (1992-96) where the Crusaders posted a 73-43 record and three consecutive 20-win seasons. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Western Illinois University.

"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."

Not really much of a surprise as there were whisperings about the possibility of this being Coach Scherer's last year as early as last summer. At the time, the feeling was that should Elmhurst have another season like the 2011-2012 campaign, this would only increase the possibility. Those early whisperings intensified at least a little when EC began this year 0-5. As we now know, things from last season until now have gone from bad to worse.
Piggybacking the rumors of Scherer's leaving were, and are, questions concerning the possibility of a return to the CCIW of former long time EC assistant John Baines, now head coach at NAIA St. Francis. I've really not heard anything solid concerning this, but given Coach Baines former association with Elmhurst and the CCIW, and his now 3 years of head coaching experience at USF, the possibility certainly seems tenable.   

[AndOne]

And, D-3 Watcher, your offer to keep your hotel rooms for NCC fans to take was a great gesture......I know that you sent the same offer to the NCC coaches.  I have to be honest.....I'm not sure that would have been my first thought if NCC had lost.

I would have taken you up on your offer, but I think the rooms you had were too far from the team hotel.  But, thanks anyway.

... not to mention the fact that the hotel rooms he reserved include beds that have too much space between the headboard and the wall.

nice one. 

And a feature that those in the adjoining room might greatly appreciate!        

[AndOne]

CONGRATULATIONS to NCC senior Derek Raridon, named today to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NCAA Division III All-America First Team.

A great honor to a great guy I've been lucky to know for four years. Derek is the personification of the word "team." Someone who is always more concerned with playing within the system and making his teammates better rather than promoting himself.

http://northcentralcardinals.com/news/2013/3/21/MBB_0321134223.aspx

[Gregory Sager]

Piggybacking the rumors of Scherer's leaving were, and are, questions concerning the possibility of a return to the CCIW of former long time EC assistant John Baines, now head coach at NAIA St. Francis. I've really not heard anything solid concerning this, but given Coach Baines former association with Elmhurst and the CCIW, and his now 3 years of head coaching experience at USF, the possibility certainly seems tenable.

The thought occurred to me as well, given that: a) the recruiting work of Baines played a huge role in Elmhurst's success during the last decade; and b) he's achieved a decent 57-38 record in his three years at the helm of the Fighting Saints, so he's got a positive track record as the man in charge.

The question is: If Scherer was forced out by the Elmhurst administration -- the press release does not indicate that Scherer's decision to retire was involuntary, so I'm not going to read anything into it -- would Baines be willing to take that job, anyway? Don't discount the loyalty that coaches have towards their former associates, especially when it's a former assistant's loyalty to his mentor. If ... if ... Scherer was forced out, Baines might refuse to take the EC job even if it's offered to him.

[iwu70]

Good luck to NCC this weekend.  Hope the Cardinals make some noise, get to Atlanta.

Also hope Baines gets the EC job.  John is a good guy . . . and bleeds green under that exterior.  He'd be a good CCIW Head Coach!

Congrats to Derek Raridon on his ongoing honors, All-Amercan first teamer.

(hahaha, Harvard, a #14 seed, wins!  Now there's a bracket buster!). 

IWU70

[NCF]

Good luck to NCC this weekend.  Hope the Cardinals make some noise, get to Atlanta.

Also hope Baines gets the EC job.  John is a good guy . . . and bleeds green under that exterior.  He'd be a good CCIW Head Coach!

Congrats to Derek Raridon on his ongoing honors, All-Amercan first teamer.

(hahaha, Harvard, a #14 seed, wins!  Now there's a bracket buster!). 

IWU70

There is always a few  good bracket busters. However, it's not like New Mexico was going to the Final Four . Which is why we went to squares this year-which by the way, I should check to see if I have some $$$ coming my way (I should put some away just in case I lose my bet with GS )

[USee]

I hope NCC beats "Midd" by double digits. I became ill from reading the NESCAC board....."Your Honor, I strenuously object". +K for Sager for trying to storm that hill.

[A Lover of the Game]

I hope NCC beats "Midd" by double digits. I became ill from reading the NESCAC board....."Your Honor, I strenuously object". +K for Sager for trying to storm that hill.

Agreed!

[blue_jays]

I hope NCC beats "Midd" by double digits. I became ill from reading the NESCAC board....."Your Honor, I strenuously object". +K for Sager for trying to storm that hill.

Agreed!

It's gotten tiresome and boring, honestly. Everyone thinks their own conference is best, and there's no point in trying to "convince" someone else that they are wrong. Regardless of how the game ends, it won't resolve any of that "debate".

[iwu70]

Yes, thumping Middlebury real good would be nice.

Always good when a team from the no conference tourney Ivies beats a major, big, highly seeded team in the DI dance.

Seems to me the Tommies have a pretty good chance of taking the Walnut and Bronze.   Perhaps Wheaton will be feeling a little bit better if they do. 

IWU70

[robertgoulet]

I hope NCC beats "Midd" by double digits. I became ill from reading the NESCAC board....."Your Honor, I strenuously object". +K for Sager for trying to storm that hill.

Agreed!

It's gotten tiresome and boring, honestly. Everyone thinks their own conference is best, and there's no point in trying to "convince" someone else that they are wrong. Regardless of how the game ends, it won't resolve any of that "debate".

Beating them handily would go a long way towards ending the debate. At least for 1 year.