Western hires Scheidecker as next women’s basketball head coach

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press Now) -- A week after Ashton Feldhaus’s resignation, Missouri Western has announced Luke Scheidecker as the next women’s basketball head coach.

Scheidecker last coached at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Illinois, and accumulated over 200 wins and had a win percentage of 91.3%. Furthermore, he coached Wabash Valley to six NJCAA Tournament appearances, including the team’s latest run this past season in which the Lady Warriors made it all the way to the tournament’s quarterfinal round.

Apart from being the head coach of the women’s basketball program at Wabash Valley College, Scheidecker also served double duty as the school’s athletic director.

In a one-on-one interview with Missouri Western’s Tommy Rezac, Scheidecker mentioned his familiarity with the Western women’s program, citing that his wife was formerly a coach under then-head coach Candi Whitaker. Knowing what he knew about Missouri Western given his wife’s connection to the program, he felt the appeal of the job.

“It felt like it was a place where they cared about [women’s basketball], they’re invested in it, in a great conference, one of the best conferences in the country and it’s a great job,” Scheidecker said.

The Smithville, Missouri, native was named the 11th coach in Missouri Western women’s basketball history, and will be the third different coach for the Griffons in three years.

In an article released by the school, a press conference for Scheidecker’s hiring is set for this Friday, April 4 at noon.