The men's basketball team announced the hiring of its newest assistant coach.
Steve Lynch, a native of Claypool, has been an assistant coach at Southwest Missouri State for the past nine seasons, but he is heading back home to Indiana to join the Ball State University coaching staff.
"I'm excited about promoting Ball State in Indiana," Lynch said.
Lynch will be a recruiting assistant at Ball State, along with his practice and game coaching duties. Head coach Tim Buckley also said he'll help with academics. Lynch replaces Scott Bunnell, who was named head coach at Lafayette Jefferson High School earlier this summer.
"I've known him for well over 10 years and worked with him in [summer basketball] camps," Buckley said. "I have great respect with what he's done with that program."
The two met in 1990, when both were working at summer basketball camps.
"The relationships we had through camps, you continue to grow those relationships," Lynch said. "We have the opportunity to get back together in a working relationship. I've known coach Buckley for a long time. It felt like a great opportunity for career advancement. "
Buckley said Lynch brings sound fundamental ideas to the program, has great contacts within the state for recruiting, is an outstanding teacher and is someone who understands Indiana basketball.
"Basketball is important [in Indiana]," Lynch said. "It's a way of life. As a basketball coach, that's what excited me the most."
The closer to home a player is, the more excitement can be generated in the state, Buckley said, but both he and Lynch said it's more important to get the right players.
"I think it's important we recruit good basketball players," Lynch said. "We've got to find kids who can help us win [Mid-American Conference] championships."
Steve Alford, currently the head coach at the University of Iowa, hired Lynch in 1991 at Manchester College. During his stay, Lynch helped Manchester to three consecutive 20-win seasons, three trips to the NCAA championships and one trip to the NCAA Division III national championship game in 1995.
When Alford moved on to Southwest Missouri State, Lynch followed him to help coach the Bears a year later. Lynch stayed with Southwest Missouri State when current head coach Barry Hinson replaced Alford in 1999.
Lynch helped the Bears to two 20-win seasons and postseason berths in his first three years. In the 1998-99 season, the Bears advanced to the East Regional semifinals in the NCAA Tournament with wins over Wisconsin and Tennessee before falling to top-ranked Duke in the Sweet Sixteen.
The Bears advanced to the NIT last season, where they defeated Rice, 105-82, then lost to Davidson, 82-71.
Lynch said he thought he could help the Cardinals at the defensive end of the court, where his teams at Southwest Missouri State found success during his time there.
Five candidates were seriously considered, Buckley said.
"We felt like all of them brought something a little different," he said. "They were all capable."
BENNETT NAMED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Former Ball State basketball player Michael Bennett was named the basketball team's new administrative assistant on Aug. 11.
He replaces Chad Briscoe, who was hired as an assistant coach at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa. Briscoe held the administrative assistant position at Ball State University for two years.
Buckley said he and Bennett discussed coaching when they first arrived on campus in 2000, Buckley in his first year as head coach and Bennett as a freshman.
"I always felt he carried himself that way for the future [to be a coach]," Buckley said.
Bennett will help the team with its academics, help oversee the managers and help with the team's travel.
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