Search committee announces final four candidates for next head men’s basketball coach at Olivet College

OLIVET, Mich. – The search committee for the next Olivet College head men's basketball coach has selected the final candidates for the position, according to an announcement by Heather Bateman, athletic director and search committee chair. Four candidates have been chosen to visit campus Monday, March 26 through Friday, March 30.

The candidates are: Jeffrey Bauer, assistant men's basketball coach at Grand Valley State University; Todd Kelly, assistant men's basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at North Central (Ill.) College; David Kool, assistant men's basketball coach at Western Michigan University; and Travis Schwab, assistant men's basketball coach at Wittenberg (Ohio) University.

"I am very excited about the future of the Olivet College men's basketball program. I feel we have four great candidates visiting campus next week and look forward to meeting with each of them." said Bateman.

Bauer has served as an assistant men's basketball coach at Grand Valley (GVSU) since 2006. While there, he has assisted in player development, scouting opponents and recruiting of student-athletes. Bauer also served as an assistant men's basketball coach at Central Michigan University (CMU) from 2003-06. His other experience includes one season as the head varsity coach at Grand Rapids Creston High School and assistant coach at Lincoln Memorial University. Bauer earned a bachelor's degree in biology from GVSU in 1997 and master's degree in athletic administration from CMU in 1999.

Kelly has been part of North Central coaching staff since 2009. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the recruitment of two classes which produced four All-Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) selections. In addition, Kelly helped North Central win back-to-back conference regular season championships. During the 2011-12 season, the Cardinals also won the CCIW tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. He has also served as the head boys' basketball coach at Providence St. Mel (Ill.) School, assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Keystone (Pa.) College, head varsity girls' basketball coach at DuSable (Ill.) High School, assistant varsity coach at Bushnell Prairie City (Ill.) High School and head freshman boys/assistant varsity coach at MacArthur (Ill.) High School. Kelly earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Millikin (Ill.) University in 2004 and a master's degree in sports management from Western Illinois University in 2004.

Kool served as a full-time assistant men's basketball coach at Western Michigan (WMU) during the 2011-12 season after being a student assistant coach in 2010-11. He has assisted with all aspects of the basketball program, including recruiting student-athletes, scouting opponents through film study, helping plan and run practices, coordinating camps, and working with booster clubs. Kool earned a bachelor's degree from WMU in 2011. He was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection and was named the MAC Player of the Year in 2010. Kool ended his career as the Broncos' all-time leading scorer with 2,122 points.

Schwab has served on the Wittenberg coaching staff since 2007. During his tenure, he has helped lead the Tigers to two NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances, including advancing to the Elite Eight in 2012. Schwab has also successfully recruited and/or developed eight All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) players, served as the head junior varsity coach and taught classes in the health, fitness and sport department. Prior to joining the Wittenberg staff, he was an assistant coach at Kenyon (Ohio) College for one year and graduate assistant coach at Heidelberg (Ohio) University for two seasons. Schwab earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2004 and a master's degree in business administration from Heidelberg in 2006. On the basketball court, he was a four-time All-NCAC performer, including the NCAC Player of the Year in 2004.

Olivet College is a private, four-year institution that competes in 20 intercollegiate sports. The college is an NCAA Division III institution in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. For more information, visit Olivet College athletics on the Internet at www.olivetcomets.com.