“I’m excited. It was my dream job.”
Steve Schafer, three-year starter and two-time all-conference basketball selection at Batavia High School, succinctly wrapped up his perspective on his recent selection as the next head basketball coach of Augustana College of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).
“In 19 years of collegiate basketball I have had a variety of experiences. I love coaching basketball. It doesn’t seem to be a job.”
Schafer, a 6-6 forward for Batavia when a talented and dedicated group put together a 68-18 record in three seasons, 1994-1997, played at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., a part of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River, although, because of injury he was a student coach as a senior. “That led me to coaching, ” he said.
That start led to Wayne State in Nebraska for a master’s degree and as an assistant coach, to North Park College in Chicago and Benedictine in Lisle, as assistant coach at each school, then head coach at D-III Fontbonne in St. Louis for three years, and to Benedictine College for six years in Mesa, Ariz., the latter as athletic director and coach to start the basketball and all other programs.
Schafer’s Batavia High School head coach Jim Roberts: “I am not surprised. He was a true gym rat who never missed a chance to play basketball. He was with a brand of kids who would go anywhere to play basketball, whether to Maywood or anywhere for basketball. He was a self–made player. Those kids made it worthwhile to be a coach.”
“Coach Roberts was great at developing character, values, taught me hard work, how to compete, how playing at Batavia is bigger than myself, it is a bigger cause. He has had a huge impact on my life. I am still friends with many former teammates.”
When Schafer went to Benedictine in Mesa, he was asked by the person in charge about staying at the school, his response was, “The only way I would leave is if the Augustana job opened up. When I told him I had applied for the job he was fine with it. He understood. I am excited and fired up to get started. I will try to recruit the Fox Valley area, a good place for basketball. I will play an up-tempo game, full-court motion offense, tough to defend, but conference championships are won on defense. We will use pressure defense and play off the three-point line.”
He succeeds Grey Giovanine who retired after a successful record of 433-150 in 21 seasons.