Marion Names New Boys Basketball Coach

Change is often times a good thing. Change is what former Marion boys basketball coach Mike Manderscheid claimed he needed when he stepped down as head coach last month. Yesterday, the Indians named Pete Messerli as his replacement. That's a name that should sound very familiar to Marion fans.

It doesn't get more 'Marion' than Pete Messerli. The 35-year-old was a multi-sport athlete while at Marion. His father Dave, was a coach and teacher at the school for many years too. After getting his coaching and teaching start at North Linn under legendary head coach Mike Hilmer, Messerli was the freshman coach for four years under Manderscheid at Marion. He spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach under Marion girls head coach Corby Laube. The Marion girls were state champions in 2018 and runner up again this year.

Messerli said that he doesn't think the switch back over to the boys game will be a big deal. He is currently a business teacher at the school and said he is already familiar with many of the players. Mike Manderscheid spent 11 years as the boys head coach at Marion. He led the Indians to 4 state tournament appearances.

[via Gazette]