A new feature at Outside the Huddle during basketball season, we will connect with area coaches on occasion to get their takes on big wins, huge matchups upcoming and more.
This week, we tracked down Columbia City boys coach Matt Schauss.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your philosophy of player development. Lately, Columbia City seems to just reload despite not having one of those “top” area players, yet they all show up and perform. How do you balance and maintain all of their development in your program?
We put a lot of emphasis on our player/skill development in the offseason and it is a key part of our daily practice plans during the season. In my time as a coach I have tried to help our kids become better all around players. We make our guards do post work and make our “bigs” handle the ball. It’s our goal to have guys who can be a threat at all 3 levels and be efficient ball handlers, passers, and scorers. We also want our players to love competition and try to put our players in situations where they have to compete. All of these things are great, but it really helps when you have kids who love basketball and enjoy being in the gym!
Q: Hand in hand with that, what sparks your guys in stepping into bigger roles? What were some of those conversations like going into and throughout this season for faces stepping up in bigger roles?
I think the biggest reason we are able to have guys step into roles at the varsity level is the continuity from freshman level on up. I truly believe we have the best assistant coaches in the state of Indiana. We have a group of coaches that care about the kids, instill confidence, and teach them to play the game the right way. As a staff, we have conversations throughout the year with our players and how we see their role on the team. We try to challenge and be as transparent as possible with them.
Q: What is the biggest change you have seen in your years coaching with the game and/or with players?
To be honest, I have not seen too much of a change in my 8 years as a head coach. If I had to pick one thing it would be that kids play more games now than ever with their AAU schedules, fall leagues, etc. I think this is a great opportunity for kids who love the game, but has lowered the number of multisport athletes in high school since I have started.
Q: How do you build a positive team culture?
Columbia City genuinely has kids who care for one another and want to see each other succeed. We have great families who have raised awesome young adults who are making a difference on and off of the court. Our staff does a good job of making sure that 1-30, and also our managers, understand that they have an impact on our program even if people may not always see it on game day.
Q: Talk about the community support in Columbia City, how important is the backing of your fan base during the season?
Columbia City is a unique place in today’s game. We live in a world where you can stay home and watch the game on your TV, but we still have a tremendous fan base that will be at our home games and travel to support our team. They are a passionate group and want to see their kids play and compete at a high level!
Q: Tell us about your 100th win, what that victory mark means to you in your still early career?
It is a pretty neat accomplishment, but a testament to all of the players I have been lucky enough to coach. It’s been a fun 8 years of meeting some pretty awesome people and creating great memories.
Q: The NE8 has been one of the toughest conferences lately because of the balance and parity. How do you approach each game knowing that nothing is ever really given in the conference?
The NE8 is full of well coached teams with players that compete! Each night you know that teams are going to bring their best and be prepared for what your team is trying to accomplish. Our approach to each game we play is consistent, but there is no hiding that there is more on the line when playing a conference opponent. It is a great league that just continues to get better!
Q: What is the most exciting part of an average day with this program?
Our goal every day is to come in and get better. I feel our program is special because we have groups year in and year out that compete every practice and every game. All of our groups have loved to get after it and they have a ton of fun in the process!
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