Regional media reported yesterday’s news of Coach Jim Kessler’s impending retirement as the long-time men’s basketball coach at Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind. Below is a round-up of news reports, with links to complete stories.
Fort Wayne, Ind., Journal-Gazette
Longtime Grace coach to retire after 42 years
It’s the end of an era at Grace College.
In a conference room overlooking the court where he has coached more than 1,300 games, Lancers men’s basketball coach Jim Kessler announced Monday that he would be retiring at the end of this, his 42nd season at the helm. Grace will be handing the job to associate head coach and former Lancers point guard Scott Moore beginning next season.
Kessler was reflective and emotional at the podium as he addressed a room full of his family, players and the media.
“I sit out there on that big ‘G’ (at center court), I’ve done this for years, and I think, ‘Do I want to do this again?’” Kessler said. “All of us have to realize we do have mortality. I’m 70.
“A friend of mine, Ralph Hodge, who coached at Olivet (Nazarene) for many years told me last summer, ‘I want to coach a couple more years, I have Cardinal tickets, I want to go to all the games.’ He died in (November). He coached too long. I don’t want to coach too long.”
With 780 victories since he began in 1977 coaching the Lancers, the only team he ever led, Kessler is the active leader in wins among NAIA Division II coaches. He coached Grace to the national title in 1992, the Lancers’ only NAIA championship, and won 10 conference championships.
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WNDU-Channel 16, South Bend, Ind.
Grace College men’s basketball coach to retire after 42 seasons
It’s the final stretch for Jim Kessler, the head men’s basketball at Grace College. He announced Monday he will retire at the end of the season next month after spending 42 seasons at his alma mater.
“I think if I’ve done my job properly, then I can slip out the door and no one will know the difference,” Kessler said.
His goal might be a hard one to achieve, considering his career is close to the 800-win mark, ranking him No. 1 among NAIA Division 2 active coaches. In 1992, he coached the Lancers to a NAIA national championship.
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ABC 57 News, South Bend, Ind.
Grace College Head Men’s Basketball Coach retires after 42 seasons
Grace College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Jim Kessler announced on Monday that his current season coaching the Lancers will be his last.
During the press conference, Kessler thanked his team, his family, and Grace College for the last 42 seasons he has spent coaching at Grace College.
“I am absolutely at peace, I am happy with this. Even a marathon has a finish line. That’s it, I’m at the finish line,” Kessler said about his decision to retire.
Kessler began his journey as head coach at Grace College in 1977. Since then, he has racked up 770 career wins going into the 2019 season and he ranks #1 among NAIA Division II active coaches.
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WANE-TV, Fort Wayne Ind.
Grace coaching legend Kessler retiring after 42 seasons
The winningest active coach in NAIA Division II basketball is calling it a career after this season.WPTA-21 (ABC), Fort Wayne, Ind.
Grace College announces retirement of basketball coach Kessler after 42 years
Coach Jim Kessler will retire as head basketball coach at Grace College — a position he has held for more than 1,300 games.
Kessler — known to many as “Coach K” — has led the Lancers to 18 different 20-win seasons, nine NAIA Nationals appearances and a Division II National Championship.
He is a former Crossroads League Coach of the Year and NCCAA Regional Coach of the Year. Kessler also served as a court coach for USA Basketball in the 2013 World University Games’ Training Camp.
The 1970 graduate of Grace College spent four years on the court for the Lancers, as well.
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