Well, I got this info a few days ago, but it is still a bit confusing. The Coyotes have released the two candidates they brought on campus to interview this past week. The two people are Mary Schroeder-Miller, Briar Cliff head coach, and Matt Houk, who’s position is somewhat unknown right now. I will get into that in a bit.
Schroeder-Miller has spent the past 12 seasons at NAIA Briar Cliff. She has done a pretty good job with an overall record of 280-174. Last season, she coaching Briar Cliff to a 22-11 mark, which was top in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
My MAJOR question for Schroeder-Miller is the severe difference between NAIA and Division-I. Yes, she has done a good job at Briar Cliff, but there is a big difference in playing the University of Sioux Falls to playing the likes of maybe Iowa State or South Dakota State or even the smaller Division I schools. Everything is completely different. It would be a HUGE jump. People were asking about Ryun Williams going from Division-II to Division-I. I know she is a local product and this is an interesting choice.
Matt Houk was an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 2002-03. Then he became an assistant for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2004-06. Both schools are in Division-I. Last year, Houk was the club director and coach for the Wisconsin Volleyball Academy in Appleton, Wisconsin.
The most intriguing thing about Houk is that he is currently listed as the head coach at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. From what I have found, he took the job on April 11th, no more then two months ago. St. Norbert is a Division-III school. I have tried to call his office but I have gotten no answer from him yet. Plus he hasn’t coached in college since 2006. That’s a long time to have off and have no head coaching experience in college to be going to Division-I.
Another thing is interim head coach for the Coyotes Kevin Marquis isn’t in the final list. I was very surprised by this because the whole team wanted him back. He runs the same system as former coach Brian Lamppa and the players think he might run the system better. Even though he has no head coaching experience, he has been with the Coyotes and doesn’t seem any worse than the other two candidates. I think the search committee made a mistake by not letting him have another interview.
I am guessing since both candidates interviewed, a decision could come up here soon, maybe in the upcoming week. Heck, the season starts in about two months and the schedule is close to being released, the team just needs a coach. I will keep trying to get in touch with Houk until it is shown he is not the coach.
In other news, former Coyote offensive lineman Tim Schneider agreed to a contract with the Sioux Falls Storm. The Storm are in the United Indoor Football League and have been the top team for the past three years basically and they have the league’s best record at 10-2. Schneider will join the team immediately and puts him in a good spot to be on the team next year.
Allison Kruger was named as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team. Now guess where Kruger was from. Yep, she was an assistant at Wayne State under Ryun Williams the past four seasons. Not really surprising after you think about it, and I have also heard former Coyote great Mandy Koupal will be added as an assistant coach as well. Talk about a staff right there. Plus both the men’s and women’s team have been given the go ahead to add a third assistant to both programs. Interesting to see who the men add and who the fourth assistant will be for the Coyotes.
Also, it will be interesting to see if any players transfer from Wayne State to USD with Kruger now moving onto USD. Guard Teresa Case for Wayne is from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls. Granted that is just speculation from my part and I haven’t heard anything to confirm it, just mainly using it as an example.
On a couple of finals notes, two Coyote track members have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII Track and Field Squad.
Senior Steph Gebhart earned her first selection on the team after posting a 3.53 GPA in psychology. Gebhart has a school record 21 career All-American honors during her career at USD.
Senior Colte Haines earned the same award on the men’s side. Haines earned a 3.88 GPA in mathematics and computer science.
As I said before, with my internship I have limited internet so hopefully something can get worked out for more posts. I will try to keep you all informed as much as possible. Thanks.
————-Justin Rust
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