Josh Schertz: A New Chapter in Saint Louis Basketball

Josh Schertz's appointment as the new head coach at Saint Louis comes on the heels of his remarkable success at Indiana State, where he guided the team to its first 30-win season in 45 years, clinched the Missouri Valley regular-season title, and led them to the NIT championship game after a NCAA Tournament snub. 

This signals a fresh start for the Billikens program under Schertz's leadership as they aim to revitalize their performance following their recent coaching transition. Schertz steps into the role previously held by Travis Ford, bringing with him a track record of success and a vision to propel the Billikens back into contention, aiming to reignite their NCAA tournament aspirations after a brief hiatus since 2019.

Saint Louis University's basketball program has faced a dry spell in securing an Atlantic 10 regular-season championship, with their last victories in 2013 and 2014 under Jim Crews. Despite their conference tournament win in 2019 under Ford's leadership, the Billikens have been striving to reclaim their dominance in the Atlantic 10. Josh Schertz's arrival as head coach injects renewed hope into the program, as they seek to recapture their past glory and cement their status as contenders in both the regular season and conference tournaments.

"I could not be more excited to be named the head coach at Saint Louis University," Schertz said. "From the top-down leadership of President Dr. Fred Pestello, Chairman Joe Conran, Trustee Dr. Richard Chaifetz and Athletics Director Chris May – to the elite facilities, infrastructure, academics and resources – this a place where you can build a sustainable championship-level program.

"On top of that, the opportunity to work, recruit and live in the great sports city of St. Louis was incredibly appealing," Schertz said. "I can't wait to get to work building and developing a program everyone involved with can be proud of."

According to a press release from Indiana State, Josh Schertz declined a contract extension that would have established him as the highest-paid coach in the school's history. In light of Schertz's departure, Matthew Graves has been appointed as the interim coach, assuming responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the program while a nationwide search is underway to identify the next head coach for ISU men's basketball.

This transitional period marks a pivotal moment for Indiana State's basketball program as they seek to find a leader who can build upon Schertz's legacy and steer the team towards continued success on the court.