DeLand, Fla. ? First-year Stetson Head Women's Basketball Coach Lynn Bria is proud to announce the finalization of her staff for her first year at the helm of the program. Stephanie Schueler, recognized as one of the best women's hoops talents to ever come out of the state of South Dakota, joins the Hatters with a decade of coaching experience as well as a decorated playing career at the highest levels of the game.
Schueler, whose duties will include working with the team's guards, being the academics coordinator and assisting with recruiting and strength and conditioning, comes to Stetson after being the head coach at Lancaster (N.Y.) High School (sububurban Buffalo) last season. She spent four seasons on staff at the University at Buffalo from 2001-05, directing summer camps, organizing team travel, film exchange and scouting as well as strength and conditioning workouts.
Before heading to Buffalo, Schueler came from the Midwest, putting in a season at Missouri (1997-98) before moving on to Western Illinois for three years (1998-2001). Working with the team in the weight room was a part of her responsibilities at these stops and she used these skills to become a personal trainer with the Lockport and Buffalo Athletic Clubs while living in the Empire State.
Schueler was a standout guard for legendary coach C. Vivian Stringer at the University of Iowa from 1987-91, helping lead the Hawkeyes to three straight Big Ten championships, a #1 national ranking and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. She was a First Team All-Big Ten selection as a senior in 1991 (earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in the preseason) and Second Team during her junior campaign, ranking third in Iowa career history for assists and steals upon graduation.
Her college success led her to a successful professional career in Luxembourg and Belgium, at the conclusion of which she served as the head coach for the Cadet Belgian National Team and ran a co-educational basketball school in the European nation as well.
Schueler's high school career in Sioux Falls, S.D. was just as spectacular, earning her induction into the Lincoln High School Hall of Fame in 2003. She won two state track titles each in the 100, 200 and 400 meters and was the South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year for both basketball and track and field. In 1997 she became the youngest person ever inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame and came in #37 for the Mount Rushmore State on Sports Illustrated's list of All-Time Greatest Athletes by State, published in 2000.
“We are very fortunate to have Stephanie Schueler as part of our coaching staff,” Coach Bria said. “She brings a lot of great experience both as a coach and as a player. While she is an outstanding coach, she is an even better person and I look forward to her working with our guards.”
Stetson, which was 9-21 overall and 7-9 in Atlantic Sun conference play last season, returns three starters including a solid returning backcourt with which Schueler can work. Senior Sharnesha Smith (Kingsland, Ga.) led the team in scoring with 9.4 points per game while sophomore Tierra Brown (Orlando, Fla.) averaged 8.7 ppg and was an A-Sun All-Freshman Team selection.
