On Tuesday, March 23, Director of Athletics Russell Rogers (Branchburg, N.J.) announced the hiring of Josh Loeffler (West Grove, Pa.) as the new head men’s basketball coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. Loeffler, who takes over a team that earned its first winning season since 1995-96 as the Ducks went 15-12 last year, becomes just the ninth head coach in the history of the program – one that dates all the way back to 1916-17.
“After conducting a very thorough national search and speaking with a number of qualified candidates, it became clear that Josh was the ideal person to lead our men’s basketball program,” Rogers said. “His focus, determination and vision for the future of our program were all very impressive, and I am confident in his ability to move our team forward.”
“I am very excited to begin my head coaching career at Stevens Institute of Technology, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with such talented student-athletes,” Loeffler said. “I have been very impressed with the caliber of people that I have met at Stevens as well as the quality of the academic and athletic programs. I am stepping into a situation where there is already a solid foundation in place plus so much enthusiasm surrounding the basketball team and entire athletic department. This energy is contagious, and because of it, I am confident that we can build a consistently competitive basketball program at Stevens.”
A 2003 graduate of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, Loeffler served as the head junior varsity basketball coach and assistant varsity coach at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., from August 2003 until May 2004. He was also a defensive line coach with the varsity football team for one season. While at Hamilton, Loeffler helped lead the Continentals to the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season and tournament titles as the team finished with an overall record of 19-8. In the process, Hamilton qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship. Throughout that season, Loeffler helped develop a National Association of Basketball Coaches second-team All-American, a first-team all-region selection, the UCAA Player and Rookie of the Year and three all-conference members.
After his stop at Hamilton, Loeffler moved on to St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where he was an assistant basketball coach with the varsity team from August 2004 until June 2005. As a member of head coach Chris Downs’ staff, Loeffler assisted in recruiting eight valuable student-athletes to the Class of 2009. One of those players later developed into the 2006 Liberty League Rookie of the Year while another was an honorable mention selection for the conference. During his stay at St. Lawrence, Loeffler was instrumental in installing a new offensive system and coaching backcourt players. He was responsible for player development and academic monitoring. Loeffler also developed an upgraded off-season workout program. During the 2004-05 season, he helped produce a player that earned NABC all-region and Liberty League first-team honors.
Loeffler’s most recent coaching experience was at Division III powerhouse Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. Hired in June 2005, Loeffler spent one full season as an assistant coach under two-time NABC Division III Coach of the Year Dave Paulsen. Over the past year, Loeffler helped lead the Ephs to a 17-8 record and an appearance in the New England Small College Athletic Conference post-season tournament. While working primarily with post players, Loeffler helped develop a second-team All-NESCAC performer. At Williams, he coordinated the Ephs’ national recruiting program, implemented the use of digital film editing and oversaw all scouting of opponents.
Over the past few summers, Loeffler has coached at the Philadelphia 76ers, Eastern Invitational, Five-Star, Cornell University and the University of Notre Dame camps.
“I have a great deal of respect for everyone that has helped me get to this point in my career,” Loeffler said. “I have been very fortunate to have worked with so many talented administrators, coaches and players at every stop along the way – from my days as a student-athlete and continuing on into my professional career.”
While in college, Loeffler was a four-year letter-winner as a forward on the basketball team at Swarthmore. He also lettered in football as a sophomore in 2000. Loeffler graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. A native of West Grove, Pa., Loeffler is currently pursuing his Masters of Education in Educational Administration from St. Lawrence.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JOSH LOEFFLER
"Josh possesses all the necessary tools to be a great success at Stevens. He is hard-working, bright and articulate and works well with all college constituencies. He has an excellent basketball mind and the ability to communicate his knowledge to a team. In addition, he truly understands the role of athletics at a competitive academic institution. In short, he ‘gets it’. He will be a wonderful addition to the Stevens community."
~ Harry Sheehy – Director of Athletics, Williams College
"I think this is a slam dunk for Stevens. In my 12 years as a collegiate head coach, Josh is the most mature and well-rounded young coach that I have seen. He has tremendous knowledge of the game, is a very fine teacher on the court and is a great tactician on the bench or in preparing scouting reports. He is a tireless recruiter who understands the importance of establishing a rapport with prospective student-athletes, their families, coaches and guidance counselors. He has the ability to relate effectively with every constituency he'll encounter in his job at Stevens. We will miss him greatly, and he will make an immediate impact at Stevens."
~ Dave Paulsen – Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Williams College
“Josh is a rising star in the coaching fraternity, and because of his intelligence and work ethic, Stevens can’t help but become a national power. He is a great hire.”
~ Chris Downs – Head Men’s Basketball Coach, St. Lawrence University
“Josh worked harder than anyone else in his days as a player and did a stupendous job with the intangibles. He will work harder than anyone else as the head coach at Stevens, and he will again do a stupendous job with the intangibles.”
~ Lee Wimberly – Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Swarthmore College
