Buck Sheels (photo/BearcatSports.com)
Northwest Missouri State has announced that Buck Scheel as head coach of the Bearcat women’s basketball team. The announcement comes after a nationwide search that included over 100 applicants.
“During Buck’s two and a half months as interim head coach, it was very evident that he had the qualities that we were looking for in our head women’s basketball coach,” said Northwest Missouri State A.D. Mel Tjeerdsma. “I am excited about the culture that he has already begun to establish with our team. There’s no doubt that we have the right person to lead our women’s basketball program back to the top of the MIAA.”
Scheel was named interim head coach on Dec. 16, 2015, prior to a road contest against Lincoln University.
“I want to thank Mel Tjeerdsma, the Northwest administration team and the department of athletics for this opportunity,” Scheel said. “I felt we made some major strides in the second half of our season and I’m excited to get the chance to continue building off of the strong base that we worked hard to establish.
“I am convinced that with our resources at Northwest, there is no question we can build a championship caliber basketball team here. The MIAA is one of the toughest conferences in the nation and continually puts high-seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament. I believe that in order to establish a winning culture, you need to start with quality student-athletes, both in the classroom and on the court. I’m excited to be able to continue to represent Northwest Missouri State and I look forward to expanding my role both on campus and in the community.”
Scheel joined the Northwest staff prior to the start of the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach. He previously served as the assistant coach at State Fair Community College, where he helped lead a Lady Roadrunner team to a 68-28 record in three years. SFCC won a Region 16 championship in 2011 and advanced to the Region 16 tournament all three years.
Prior to SFCC, Scheel was the head women’s basketball coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, from 2007 to 2010. He coached multiple all-conference athletes both on the floor and in the classroom.
Scheel graduated from Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, where he was a co-captain for two years. He graduated with a degree in business management with an emphasis in marketing. Scheel also worked as a student assistant at Waldorf University following his graduation. He received a master’s degree in sports management from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala. Scheel is a native of Columbus, Neb.
Courtesy–NW Missouri State
