Kessler Tabbed By USA Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Grace College men’s basketball head coach Jim Kessler was announced as a court coach for the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games training camp.
Kessler will assist USA Basketball’s coaching staff during the team’s training camp from June 24-July 1 for the 2013 Men’s University Games.
The USA men will be coached by Davidson College’s Bob McKillop and assisted by Michigan’s John Beilein and South Carolina’s Frank Martin. The 2013 World University Games are held in Kazan, Russia, from July 6-17.
“I’m highly honored to have the opportunity to contribute to USA Basketball. It’s an honor for the NAIA to be included at this level. I think USA Basketball is recognizing there are a lot of good coaches at this level,” Kessler said. “I’m thrilled at this opportunity to help pick and train players to represent us in Russia. If nothing else, I want to encourage these guys to represent us well. We’ll go overseas with a target on our back as the United States, so we need to leave the all-star attitude behind, play hard and play together.”
Kessler will serve as court coach alongside Tad Boyle of the University of Colorado and Matt Matheny of Elon College at next month’s training camp.
Organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the World University Games is a multi-sport competition open to men and women who are between the ages of 17 and 24 (born between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1995), and are or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university.
“It’s an honor to represent the NAIA, our league, Grace College and the state of Indiana,” Kessler continued. “I’m humbled to have this chance, and I appreciate USA Basketball and the NAIA for allowing me to represent them.”
Kessler has amassed 679 career wins at Grace during his 36-year coaching career. He has directed the Lancers to 15 20-win seasons and three 30-win seasons during his time, including a 24-10 record last year and a trip to the 2013 NAIA Division II National Championship semifinals.
To view the complete news release from USA Basketball, click here.