Wheaton College (Ill.) Vice President for Student Development, Dr. Paul Chelsen ’91 has announced that he has appointed Mike Schauer ’93 as Wheaton’s next Athletics Director effective immediately. Schauer has been serving as the Acting Athletics Director since May 2022, while also serving as Wheaton’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach, a role he has fulfilled since 2009, and a role in which he will remain. Schauer successfully managed similar dual roles at two previous colleges.
Chelsen said of his appointment, “Coach Schauer has demonstrated to the campus over the past year and a half that he is as effective an Athletics Administrator as he is Wheaton’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Wheaton Athletics and the Men’s Basketball team are both thriving under his leadership and under the support of the Athletics Administrators, Coaches, and Athletic Trainers.”
Schauer rejoined his Alma Mater in 2009 as Head Men’s Basketball Coach and was named an Assistant Athletics Director in 2018. He was on the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball National Committee from 2018-22. He served one year as the committee’s Vice Chair and was Chairman of the committee in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Since 2002, Schauer has served on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Board of Directors.
Schauer says of the appointment, “I am excited to continue this dual role in an official capacity. The truth is I enjoy both responsibilities and am grateful to our president Dr. Philip Ryken and my direct report Dr. Paul Chelsen for the opportunity to continue in both roles. However, I recognize this has been a team effort and will continue to be a team effort. The athletic department staff and coaches are all exceptional. But this appointment brings some clarity to our department. We will continue to pursue excellence. We want our student-athletes to grow in their relationship with Jesus, we want them to have an amazing experience, and we want to win.”
In 23 seasons as a head coach in men’s basketball, Schauer has accumulated a career record of 390-222, with a 63.7% career winning percentage. His teams have made eight NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances, advancing to the sectional round of the tournament five times, with a National Semifinal Game in 2019.
