Steve Zeller shares his message Tuesday night as the key note speaker for the NCCAA Championships Banquet in Warsaw.

WARSAW – Faith and family have formed the foundation for Steve Zellers’ life.

That message came through loud and clear Tuesday night.

Zeller, arguably the most famous father in this basketball-crazed state, was the key note speaker for the NCCAA Championships Banquet.

Zeller, whose three sons Luke, Tyler and Cody were all Mr. Basketball award winners in Indiana, talked about family during his address to the 16 men’s and women’s teams gathered at the Warsaw Community Church.

Grace College will serve as host for the men’s and women’s NCCAA Championships today through Saturday.

Zeller, who grew up in a family of 12 children, talked about how many moments go into a life. He explained how when his father died in 1998 that the dash on his tombstone in between the date of his birth and the date of his death signified the moments of his life.

“That dash on the tombstone is how many moments go into life,” said Zeller, who is the Director of DistinXion, a non-profit business that conducts basketball camps and teaches character training.

Zeller shared stories of moments in his life that involved all three of his sons. Luke, the oldest, played at Notre Dame. Tyler played at North Carolina and Cody at Indiana. Tyler now plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Cody is with the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA and Luke is playing with the San Antonio Spurs’ D-League team.

One of the most touching involved Cody, who left IU after his sophomore season last year, to be the fourth overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Zeller had been at an event with former IU great Kent Benson last spring. The two left and went to visit Jared, a 26-year old IU graduate who was battling colon cancer and was a big fan of Cody and the Hoosiers.

“Jared told me how much it meant to him watching IU last season and how it kept him alive,” recounted Zeller. “Cody was out in Portland going through a tryout for the NBA and I texted him.

“Cody calls Jared and I hear Jared tell him that I know you are struggling. But, to live each day to the fullest because you will never know when the Father will call you home.

“We leave and I call Cody and he tells me that was exactly what he needed to hear at that time. He still had seven more tryouts to go to and was complaining about that and here is Jared fighting for his life.

“I just said Wow. That was a God moment. He uses us in so many different ways.”

Zeller also shared the heartfelt story after he had heart surgery a few years ago.

“I was lying in the hospital bed and I woke up and heard a voice asking God to help me,” said Zeller. “I look and there is 6-11 Luke on his knees at my bedside praying for me. That’s a father moment.”

Zeller also shared a lighter moment from the boys’ life. The family was in South Bend for the McDonald’s All-American game at Notre Dame for Luke, when they met legendary coach and Indiana native John Wooden. The coaching legend talked to the boys and then two days later they ran into him again.

“Coach Wooden was seated at a table signing autographs and he asked Cody (then a sixth grader) to come over and stand next to him. After a little while, he asked him to move a little bit. I figured out that Wooden was using Cody to block the sun from the window while he signed autographs. That was a moment that Cody will never forget.”

Zeller also worked in moments such as the famous half court shot that Cody hit at the final buzzer in 2005 to beat Plymouth 74-72 in the Class 3-A state championship game. He also alluded to when Tyler earned the highest Academic All-American honor in the country following his career at North Carolina and then thanked his parents.

“Those are father moments,” said the elder Zeller.

Zeller concluded his thoughtful speech by telling those gathered to “enjoy the moments.”

Zeller, whose family lives in Washington, Indiana, also shared his thoughts on the state of IU basketball following the banquet.

The Hoosiers missed postseason play this year after a disappointing 17-15 season. IU went 56-16 the past two years under coach Tom Crean, including a Big 10 championship in 2013 and back-to-back appearances in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers lost four starters from last year’s team, including Victor Olidipo, who was picked second in the NBA draft overall and Cody, who was the fourth overall pick.

There was a report this past weekend that some IU alumni are unhappy with coach Crean and former IU player Mike Woodson’s name surfaced in rumors as a possible replacement for Crean.

“I think that coach Crean has done an excellent job,” said Zeller the man who took over a Hoosier program in shambles six years ago following the resignation of Kelvin Sampson amidst allegations of NCAA violations by the former IU coach. “IU was a long ways down and you don’t just change that overnight.

“You are going to have ups and downs in a program, no matter who the coach is. I did expect them to have a dip this year, but not as low as they did. But, I’m an emotional fan. I’m a Hoosier. I want them to win all the time.

“Crean understands basketball. His biggest strength is his X’s and O’s.”

Zeller also commented on what the IU experience was like for Cody, a huge commitment when Crean convinced him to stay in state and play in Bloomington.

“I can tell you how hard it was for Cody to leave IU last year,” Zeller said of his youngest son. “It was a hard decision for him because of IU, the whole experience.”