Millikin University Director of Athletics Dr. Craig White announces the hiring of Mark Scherer as the new Big Blue Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
Scherer is a proven winner in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) posting 245 career wins, a conference championship and seven top two CCIW finishes before retiring as the head coach at Elmhurst College in 2013. In his 17 seasons guiding the Bluejays, Scherer’s teams finished in the top four in the conference 10 times and made two trips to the NCAA Tournament including the school’s first trip to the Sweet 16. Scherer holds the Elmhurst record for most career wins as a head coach and best career winning percentage. During his tenure, the Bluejays were ranked in the NCAA Division III Top 25 rankings 10 times including four times in the top 10. While at Elmhurst, Scherer was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Midwest Region Division III Coach of the Year.
“Millikin is very fortunate to get a coach with Mark’s experience,” said Dr. Craig White. “When we started the search, I wanted someone with experience, knowledge of the CCIW and the ability to recruit the state of Illinois. We had great interest in the position and through the process it became clear that Coach Scherer was the perfect fit for Millikin University.”
“We are very happy to welcome Mark Scherer to Millikin,” said Millikin President Dr. Patrick White. “Coach Scherer’s career success as a coach and a leader promises much for the culture of success we are building at Millikin in athletics and across the campus.”
“I am excited for the unbelievable opportunity to be the head coach of the Millikin University men’s basketball program,” said Scherer. “Success is about the right person at the right time in the right place. Millikin is the perfect fit for me. I am looking forward to joining the Big Blue family and being a part of the Decatur community.”
Most recently, Scherer has served as the Director of Development at Illinois State University. Scherer served as Director of Development at Eureka College from 2013-2016 and was the Red Devils Interim Director of Athletics in 2013.
Before joining the Elmhurst staff in 1996, Scherer was assistant coach at Valparaiso University for four years and an assistant coach at Western Illinois University for two years. After playing professionally in the Irish Basketball Association from 1983-86, Scherer got his start in coaching as a teacher and junior varsity coach at Sullivan High School.
Scherer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education at Eureka College and a Master of Science in Sport Management at Western Illinois University.
