OFFICIAL: Josh Schertz named head coach at Saint Louis

After a successful three-year run at Indiana State, Josh Schertz has been named head coach at Saint Louis. Schertz took over an ISU program in rough shape, and after an 11-20 first year led the team to 55-20 record over the last two, winning the 2024 MVC title and finishing as NIT Runner-up earlier this week.

“The expectations at SLU are to compete for championships and to advance in the NCAA Tournament,” AD Chris May said. “Josh’s teams win at a high level and compete for championships while performing at an elite level of offensive and defensive efficiencies. They compete with a disciplined focus and toughness that elite teams possess. Josh is a dynamic leader who will build a championship basketball program that the entire Billiken community will be proud of.”

Schertz made the jump to Division I in 2021 after building a D-II powerhouse at Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee. He led the Railsplitters to nine South Atlantic titles and ten NCAA Tournament appearances in thirteen seasons, advancing to the D-II Final Four three times and finishing as Runner-up in 2016.

Once he arrived in Terre Haute, he quickly built up a program that had not finished better than 3rd in the Valley since 2014, the last year they reached the postseason. His second and third years he had the Sycamores in the national conversation, especially in 2024 when his team was left out of the NCAA Tournament after falling to Drake in the MVC title game to finish 28-6. They went on a run to the NIT final and fell just short of the crown to Seton Hall.

“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. I can’t wait to get to work building and developing a program everyone involved with can be proud of.”

Saint Louis parted ways with former head coach Travis Ford last month after eight seasons with just one NCAA appearance. The Billikens were hardly ever competitive in the Atlantic 10 under Ford, finishing 4th or worse in all but one season.

credit to Saint Louis Athletics for the image