Josh Schertz – A Familiar Feel

Leaves Indiana State for SLU

(St. Louis, MO) – Josh Schertz’s introduction as Saint Louis University’s new men’s basketball coach had a familiar feel. The Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year is now the leader of the Billikens. While the shade of blue is slightly different, Schertz seemed as comfortable at Chaifez Arena as he did in Hulman Center.

The one liners were similar and several members of his Indiana State coaching staff were in attendance, getting ready to work for Saint Louis. After an electrifying, 32-win season Schertz has left the MVC for the Atlantic Ten Conference.

Schertz is excited about the move to Saint Louis, but says leaving Indiana State and Terre Haute, Indiana was difficult to do.

 

 

He will be bringing some of ISU with him. His son Jaden will transfer and play for the Billikens and several members of his staff and a former staff member are joining him in the Gateway City.

Antone Gray, Rob Gardiner from the current staff and former assistant Zak Boisvert are the first members of what Schertz hopes will be the best staff he’s ever worked with. Boisvert was a member of the 2021-22 staff and coached at George Washington last season.

 

 

A Familiar Feel

Schertz’s Arch Madness experiences gave him some familiarity with St. Louis, but hadn’t really spoken to the Saint Louis Director of Athletics Chris May until after the Valley tournament was over. During the week between Arch Madness and Selection Sunday, he spoke with his agent and fielded inquiries from what he calls ‘four or five’ opportunities.

During the Sycamores’ NIT journey he became more familiar with Mr. May, the university and the SLU value system and administration. Following Indiana State’s NIT title game defeat, he accepted the Saint Louis offer the next day.

Schertz believes the NIT induced delay had an effect on his final decision. As he became more familiar with Saint Louis, it seemed like the best fit.

 

 

The new SLU coach is open to maintaining a number of Saint Louis’ regional rivalry games with Valley schools. Missouri State and Southern Illinois are routinely on the Billiken schedule. Ironically, the only game currently on SLU’s upcoming schedule is against Illinois State.

Even the schedule could have a familiar feel.

 

 

What About Sycamore Players?

Schertz cannot speak about the players he left behind in Terre Haute. College basketball is in its ‘dead period’ where coaches cannot communicate with, comment on, nor recruit players that are in the transfer portal. Currently none of ISU’s starters are in the portal.

Indiana State is in the midst of trying to sign its next head coach. While Matthew Graves is the ‘interim’ head coach, the ambiguity of that situation hinders ISU from retaining any of those all-conference players.

Schertz spoke with the ISU players after he chose to leave and realizes each of those players could have different goals or aspirations. If a new coach is signed in Terre Haute, then he anticipates his former players meeting with that new coach before they make any major decisions.

 

 

Will ISU Have a Familiar Feel?

Schertz believes Graves is the best man for the job. He believes it gives ISU the best chance to move forward, retain some of the current roster and to build on the solidly laid foundation.

 

 

Like many Valley watchers, we are sad to see Schertz move to a different university and conference. However, we are also happy for the friendly Schertz to move into a much higher tax bracket.

I couldn’t leave this conversation without asking him about Xavier Bledson. The two have been together for the past six seasons. Schertz and ‘Jabo’ are very close. Bledson told me that Schertz is like a second father to him. Schertz hopes Jabo can play professional basketball. When he quits playing, Schertz would love to hire him to his coaching staff.

 

 

All Sycamore fans were nervous about losing Schertz and now about losing those great starters from last year’s team. Robbie Avila, Jayson Kent, Isaiah Swope, Ryan Conwell and Julian Larry have decisions to make. They could stay in Terre Haute, split up and play other places or transfer in masse to Saint Louis. None of us know what they will do.

All of coach Schertz’s press conference comments can be seen on YouTube. 

A familiar feel could be staying with Graves and Terre Haute, or it could be with Schertz in St. Louis. Unfortunately for college basketball fans, the waiting game of wondering what your favorite players are going to do, has now become a familiar feel.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo credit Isabella Click