27th April 2018
SCOTT HEMER TABBED NEW WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH
Scott Hemer was introduced as the ninth head coach in Canisius women's basketball history on Wednesday.
Photos via SUNY Geneseo and Tess Pszonak/The Griffin
Stories by Marshall Haim, Sports Editor
Geneseo and Canisius have glaring similarities
G
oing from a Division III school to a Division I school may seem like a crazy jump for a head coach, but for Scott Hemer the move feels right. Hemer, the newly hired women's basketball head coach, was formally introduced to the media Wednesday afternoon in the Griffin Team Room in the Koessler Athletic Center. The North Collins native had spent the previous 11 seasons at SUNY Geneseo, establishing a powerhouse within the Division III ranks. Hemer was named the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Coach of the Year for the past four seasons. Canisius athletic director Bill Maher opened the press conference saying that there was a deep candidate pool for the position, like any Division I job. He added that in looking for the new head coach he looks for some “defining qualities” in candidates. “Someone who is focused on academics and the development of student-athletes,” said Maher on one of the qualities. “I always search for someone who's had previous head coaching experience and recruiting in the Northeast and throughout New York State in proximity to our campus. Someone who has demonstrated the ability to recruit and develop young women to help us lead a program that our alumni and friends can be proud of.” All of the aspects that Maher
stated, Hemer emulates. “Canisius College has such a proud tradition of both academics as well as athletics and that's ultimately what made this opening so appealing to me,” Hemer stated in his opening remarks. “Balance is a big part of what makes a school and its athletic programs successful. “I've always felt that if you're going to be an effective recruiter at this level you have to have something of value to sell. I certainly think, as you mentioned Geneseo -- the name academically, especially as a SUNY institution -- had value and I saw a lot of similar values in what I would be able to promote here at Canisius.” After the 12-minute press conference, the main takeaway was that both Canisius and Geneseo have glaring similarities, which will make the transition for Hemer that much easier. “I had the opportunity to meet with a few of the players that are here today when I was on campus,” Hemer said, “and having some conversations with administration and I found a lot of similarities in them with the players that I'm used to at Geneseo. Ultimately seeing that they have some interest in creating a little bit of different culture here and feeling that it was something that I could work with.” People may question hiring a Division III head coach to take over a mid-major Division I program, but that is not even
CanisiusGriffin.Wordpress.com
see Wing @ 9
Aided SUNY Geneseo to five NCAA appearances
Hemer spent the last 11 seasons coaching Photo courtesy of at Division III SUNY Geneseo. SUNY Geneseo
Scott Hemer's Coaching History
Overall Conf. Year Team W L PCT W L PCT 2001-07 Genesee CC 147 40 .786 2007-08 SUNY Geneseo 12 14 .462 10 6 .625 2008-09 SUNY Geneseo 8 18 .308 5 11 .313 2009-10 SUNY Geneseo 16 11 .593 12 7 .632 2010-11 SUNY Geneseo 26 4 .867 17 1 .944 2011-12 SUNY Geneseo 16 10 .615 11 7 .611 2012-13 SUNY Geneseo 20 7 .741 14 4 .778 2013-14 SUNY Geneseo 21 7 .750 13 5 .722 2014-15 SUNY Geneseo 25 5 .833 17 1 .944 2015-16 SUNY Geneseo 21 8 .724 14 4 .778 2016-17 SUNY Geneseo 28 2 .933 18 0 1.000 2017-18 SUNY Geneseo 25 3 .893 18 0 1.000 Totals (17 years) 365 129 .739 149 46 .764 SUNY Geneseo (11 years) 218 89 .710 149 46 .764 Genesee CC (6 years) 147 40 .786 N/A
Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y.
After a month and a half search for a head coach, Canisius athletic director Bill Maher announced Monday that Scott Hemer would assume the role as the ninth head coach in Canisius women's basketball program history. Over the last 11 seasons, Hemer has been the head coach at SUNY Geneseo, a Division III school approximately 60 miles east of Canisius. The Knights went 23-2 overall and 18-0 in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play this past season. It was their second straight year with a perfect 18-0 record in the conference. In Hemer’s tenure at Geneseo, he aided the Knights in compiling an overall record of 218-89 (.710), going 149-46 (.764) in SUNYAC play. Geneseo would appear in their fifth straight SUNYAC championship game, claiming their first title in three years. It was the program's sixth SUNYAC title. It was also the fourth straight year Geneseo had appeared in the Division III tournament. If that doesn’t assure the dominance that Geneseo has had in the SUNYAC recently, the Knights have won 40 consecutive regular season conference games, dating back to 2015-16. In that span, Hemer has held an overall record of 74-13 (a .851 win percentage), including a 50-4 (.926) mark in SUNYAC play. Hemer, who has been a basketball coach for the past 22 years, has been a coach at the collegiate ranks for the last 17 years. His
overall record is 365-129 (.739). "It is an honor to be selected as the next women's basketball coach at Canisius and I am humbled and excited by the opportunity I have been presented," Hemer said in a press release. "I would like to thank President John J. Hurley and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Terri Mangione for their efforts and I look forward to working with them in the future. I would also like to express my gratitude to Bill Maher and his staff for putting their faith in me to lead the program. "With a proud tradition of academics and athletics, my family and I are excited to join the Golden Griffin community. I am looking forward to working with the team, building relationships in the college community and creating a culture that expects success on and off the court." Following a five-year stint as the girls' varsity basketball coach at Gowanda High School, Hemer spent six years at Genesee Community College in Batavia. That's where he led the Cougars to a record of 147-40 (.786). In what was his final year at GCC, the Cougars went on to claim the NJCAA Western New York Athletic Conference, NJCAA Region III and NJCAA District C championships, earning a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament. Hemer’s teams have been known for being extremely efficient offensively, averaging 62.7 see Hemer @ 9 Design © 2018 Emyle Watkins