Former Bethel Stars Brand, Schauss Tabbed As Prep Coaches
Add another pair of former Bethel College basketball standouts to the lengthy list of high school coaches in the Hoosier State.
The duo of Eric Brand and Matt Schauss have been hired to take over the boys basketball programs at South Bend Riley and Jimtown high schools respectively.
Brand was a star at Bethel from 1996-2000, setting both single-season and career scoring records for the Pilots. He then played professionally in both Austria and Australia and was also a member of the Elkhart Express.
Brand has had assistant coaching stints at Baylor University, Tyler Junior College and Texas State University. He was, most recently, an assistant coach at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis.
Brand replaces Mark Johnson, who retired in March following a long and distinguished coaching career. Johnson won 439 games in 33 seasons overall, including the last 15 at Riley. The Wildcats were 19-3 this past season.
Schauss takes over at Jimtown just two years removed from being a star for the Pilots. He earned the 2015 Crossroads League Player of the Year after an outstanding senior season in Mishawaka. Schauss was a four-year starter at point guard for the Pilots and earned All-American honors.
Schauss, who is just 24, will become one of the youngest boys basketball coaches in state history. He has been a teacher and assistant coach for the boys basketball program at LaVille High School in Lakeville for the past two years. He was also the head boys’ golf coach and an assistant football coach for the Lancers.
Schauss starred at Centerville High School east of Indianapolis before coming to Bethel. His father Rick coached at Centerville until 2003 and his older brother Drew also played for the Pilots.
Schauss replaces Marcus Moore, who resigned earlier this month after three seasons at Jimtown. The Jimmies went 4-19 during the 2016-17 season.