Eastern University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Dan Pruessner announced that Kyle Stramara has been promoted to Associate Head Coach. Stramara has served as Pruessner’s lead assistant for the last three seasons, and has played an integral role in helping the Eagles to two of the most successful seasons in program history.
“Kyle has been very influential in the success of the past three years,” Pruessner said. “As our recruiting coordinator, he has been very involved in bringing in depth and talent. Our offensive efficiency has improved in each of his three seasons, and he has played a great role in developing a winning culture on our staff and in our program. I am grateful for his contribution and pleased to be able to have him as our Associate Head Coach.”
The 2021-22 Eagles won 21 games and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 21 wins is the most since the University joined the NCAA in 1992. The 1987-88 team went 30-6 when Eastern competed in the NAIA. The Eagles had five players average double-figure scoring and were at the top of the league in field goal percentage.
Stramara came to Eastern after serving as District Manager for Push The Rock Harrisburg and oversaw the Prison Ministry for that organization in Pennsylvania. Push The Rock is a global sports ministry that uses the avenue of sports to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With Push the Rock, Kyle led teams to Italy, Spain, Costa Rica, and Brazil. He had served as a varsity coach at Downingtown West, Emmaus, and West Shore Christian Academy. He also served for a year as an assistant at Lancaster Bible.
Over the past three years, he earned his MBA from Eastern
“The last three years have been a lot of fun working with Coach Pruessner,” Stramara said. “He has gone from my boss to a close friend. It’s an extreme honor to receive the promotion to Associate Head Coach and to see my hard work recognized. Working with our guys and our basketball staff has made the long days and countless hours seem easy. My family has sacrificed a lot to allow me to pursue my dream of coaching and I am very blessed to have them. I can honestly say I love my job and I owe that to the great people I get to interact with every day.”
“Since I joined the Men’s Basketball staff three years ago,” he continued. “Eric [McNelley] has helped facilitate tremendous growth to our athletic department and he has been super supportive of our programs. The culture here at Eastern is extremely strong and our staff is a very special group of people. I am excited to continue being a part of the family here at EU while serving in my new role.”
Stramara also oversees work study students in the Athletic Department.
