Heidelberg University Director of Athletics Matt Palm announced that Andrew Bucheit has been named the head men’s basketball coach. A native of Cincinnati, Bucheit is the 19th head coach in the 106-year history of the program.
Bucheit joins Heidelberg after serving as an assistant coach at Marietta College for five seasons. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2012.
“We are very pleased that Andy will be leading our program,” said Palm. “He has been part of a winning program that has a proven blueprint to help move men’s basketball forward. The key factor to that blueprint is the development of young men academically and personally.”
Bucheit was a member of the Marietta coach staff that took the Pioneers from last place to first place in three seasons. He served as the recruiting coordinator and was the head junior varsity coach.
“My goal is to create an environment where our student-athletes relentlessly pursue a competitive edge in all aspects of their lives,” said Bucheit. “Our program will be filled with young men who have a strong desire to be the best students, individuals and athletes they can be.”
As a student-athlete, Bucheit was a four-year letterman at Wittenberg University, where he finished with 951 career points. During his time at Wittenberg, the Tigers won two North Coast Athletic Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament three times.
Prior to his stint at Marietta, Bucheit was a graduate assistant at Ashland University, where he earned a master’s degree in sport education.
Bucheit takes over a Student Prince program that has advanced to the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament six times in the past seven seasons. In 2008, Heidelberg won the OAC tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament.
“Heidelberg has a lot of great features – an attractive campus, strong academic programs and a rich recruiting area,” said Bucheit. “Our plan is to get basketball at Heidelberg, a program with a tradition of excellence, back in the national spotlight.”
Despite taking over a team that lost two 1,000-point scorers (Dane Givner and Nate Davis) to graduation, Bucheit is eager to get started.
“The chance to lead the Heidelberg basketball program in the competitive OAC is a huge thrill,” said Bucheit. “I want to thank President Rob Huntington, Dean Dustin Brentlinger, Matt Palm and the search committee for this opportunity. My wife, Melissa, and I are excited to join the Heidelberg and Tiffin communities.”
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