Goshen, IN — Gary Chupp is returning
to his hometown to serve as Goshen College's new men's basketball
coach.
Goshen College Athletic Director Ken Pletcher announced today that
Chupp, the men's basketball coach of Bethel College in North Newton,
Kan., was selected following a national search to replace Stan Daugherty,
who resigned earlier this month (click here for related article).
"Gary grew up in the Goshen area and is very familiar with the
basketball passion of northern Indiana. His nine years as a successful
college head coach should be very valuable as we participate in the
basketball rich Mid-Central College Conference. Gary brings a clear
understanding of the challenges of recruiting college basketball players
and we look forward to the strong leadership he will bring to the
basketball program." Pletcher said.
Chupp, who will become the Goshen program's 13th coach in its 53-year
history, said he is delighted to have the opportunity to coach the
Maple Leafs, which are expected to return all but three seniors from
its 2006-07 squad.
"I am very excited to take over the Goshen basketball program," Chupp
said. "This position is attractive in part because of the job
Coach Daugherty has done the past six seasons. He demonstrated
that you can bring in quality student-athletes and have success,
both on the court and in the classroom. My hope is to build on what
has been accomplished and to take us to the upper level of one of
the strongest NAIA conferences in the country.
"My first task will be to re-recruit the talented group of returning
players along with the new incoming signees. Having met the players
in the interview process, I was impressed with their passion and I
look forward to working together to achieve our goals," Chupp
added.
In his nine seasons as head coach, Chupp led the Bethel Threshers
to championships in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC)
in 1999 and 2003, and was named KCAC Coach of the Year in both years.
The 2003 team made Bethel's first-ever appearance in the NAIA National
Tournament. Chupp also coached two KCAC Players of the Year, four
NAIA All-Americans and nine NAIA Academic All-Americans.
The Threshers finished the 2006-2007 season with a 7-11 record in
the KCAC, which tied them for sixth in the conference, and had an
overall record of 11-18. Chupp's overall coaching record at Bethel
was 123-136 and he had a conference record of 84-74.
At Goshen, Chupp also will be an assistant professor of physical
education. "I am pleased to have Chupp as a faculty member in
the physical education department," said Jewel Lehman, head of
the department. "He is familiar with faculty responsibilities
on campus and has experience teaching and supervising at the college
level. Chupp is a good fit for the athletic department but he is going
to make a positive impact on the larger campus community as well."
Chupp grew up in Goshen and is a 1987 graduate of Bethany Christian
High School, where he was a First Team All-Elkhart County High School
Basketball Selection.
In 1992, he graduated from Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), Harrisonburg,
Va., with bachelor of science degrees in physical education and psychology.
While at EMU, he was the second-leading scorer in the history of the
men's basketball program and was named to the Old Dominion Athletic
Conference All-Conference team three straight years. In 1996, he was
inducted into the EMU Hall of Honor, and he still holds the conference
career record for three-pointers, with 294.
After graduation, Chupp went to Bethel as an assistant coach and
interim head coach, from 1992 to 1994, before moving on to Bluffton
(Ohio) University as an assistant for two years and then Geneva College,
Beaver Falls, Pa., as an assistant for two years. He then returned
to Bethel College in 1998. At Bethel, Chupp also has been an instructor
in the health management department.
Chupp said he and his wife, Melissa, plan to move to Goshen in June
with their four-year-old daughter, Madilyn, and one-year-old son,
Tyson. His parents live in nearby Shipshewana.
"Although it is difficult to leave the Bethel community after
nine gratifying years, I have a desire to return to the Goshen community," Chupp
said. "It will be nice to have my kids grow up around my parents
who live in Shipshewana. My dad owns the Pie Pantry right across from
the college. I figure if I continue to allow my dad to beat me at
golf, maybe he will give us some free meals."
Chupp's predecessor, Stan Daugherty, resigned after six years as
head coach for personal and family reasons; the 31-year high school
and college coach will move into an administrative role next year
as the athletic director for Delta High School (Muncie, Ind.). Daugherty
completed his Goshen tenure with a record of 87-104 (.455), surpassing
legendary coach Roman Gingerich's former record of 85 wins.
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Gary Chupp