Mark Scheurer Stepping Down as St. Patrick’s Boys Basketball Coach
St. Patrick School Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Mark Scheurer has announced that he is stepping down from the program effective immediately.
Scheurer has been coaching basketball at one level or another at St. Patrick’s since 1988 when he was a Junior at the school himself.
He said, “I started coaching at Saint Patrick in 1988 when I was a Junior in High School. Marc Nichols and I were hired to coach the 5th and 6th grade boys. Al Schrauben hired me in 1994 to be his JV Girls coach which I did for four years. I also was hired to coach Varsity Baseball in 1995 and I did that for three years. In 2006 the boys’ varsity basketball job came open and Al Schrauben asked me if I wanted it and I said sure, if you want me to have it. My math has me doing it for 13 years.”
Scheurer has been very successful in his time coaching the varsity boys. He said, “I know that I surpassed the 150 wins, but the memories and relationships I still have with players I coached 20 some years ago is what's priceless. I hold alumni scrimmages each year during Thanksgiving and Christmas where I get to see past players and catch up. I will miss that the most. I enjoy the "in the game" moments but relationships have lasted through decades, this is what resonates with me the most.”
Scheurer has been a teacher in the area since 1995. First as a full-time sub in 1995 at Ionia Middle School. He taught at St. Patrick’s in 1995-1996, then at Pewamo-Westphalia in 1996 to 1998. He started teaching at Portland High School in 1998, where he still teaches today.
As for his decision to step down, Scheurer said, “After talking with (wife) Jill and prayerful consideration, I have decided to resign because I want to watch my daughters play and help them with their sports. Carly (9th) and Addison (7th) are active in three sports (Basketball, Softball, and Volleyball) and I am excited to see them compete in their respective sports.”
Scheurer added, “I don't consider myself retiring, I am stepping down as Varsity Boy's Coach. I will always be a coach, I am just not sure where or at what right now. I enjoy working with athletes and coaching them to the best of my ability. Many parents and people of the community have thanked me, but I am the lucky one! I've got to do something I loved at the place I love. What more could a person ask for? God has Blessed me and I thank the Saint Patrick community for supporting me and having me work with their children. Life works in mysterious ways, one door closes, another opens. I just have to see what that door is?”
St. Patrick Principal Randy Hodge and Athletic Director Patrick Russman did not respond to the Beacon’s email request for information about a possible replacement or search process by the time of this posting.
