Brad Zellner was named as the new assistant coach for the team on Aug. 5. He is replacing Antwain Banks, who resigned after being an assistant coach for five years to accept an assistant coach position at Kentucky State University.
Zellner’s latest job was as the head coach at Miami University Hamilton.
“I learned more in that one year than I did in all my years as an assistant because it all fell on my shoulders,” Zellner said.
Zellner only had four weeks to fill his roster at Miami University Hamilton, which only had two returning players. He filled the roster and got his team to peak at the right time, as they won eight of their last 10 games and finished as the runner-up in the postseason tournament.
He also worked as an assistant coach for IU Southeast from 2000-2004 under former head coach, Walt Corbean.
Zellner said he is excited to work with current head coach, Wiley Brown.
“I’m excited to be back” Zellner said. “Coach Brown has done a great job in his two years, this is a great situation and we have a great group of guys.”
Zellner said Brown employs a much more up-tempo game plan than Corbean did.
“Coach Brown lets the guys play, we’re going to run an attacking offense,” Zellner said.
Zellner will work primarily with perimeter players, and do quite a bit of scouting and recruiting as well. The Grenadiers’ recent run of success has Zellner feeling optimistic about the upcoming season.
“I think we’re close to taking the next step,” Zellner said.
Last season, IU Southeast won their first ever game in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship
Tournament.
Zellner was present during the 2002-2003 season when the Grenadiers made their first appearance in the national tournament in six years.
“We were satisfied with being there,” Zellner said. “Now we won’t be satisfied until we are playing in the last weekend.”
The summer months seem to be dragging along in Zellner’s opinion.
“I’m just looking forward to getting started, summer is for the birds,” he said.
Zellner’s career does not allow him to have much of a social life.
“I have no social life,” Zellner said. “I’m a coach.”
Zellner graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2000 with a BA in History.
Joe Glover, assistant athletic director, said he is happy to have Zellner back with the Grenadiers.
“Brad is good at making programs better,” Glover said. “He is very detail oriented.” The Grenadiers’ open their season on Nov. 6 as part of the Joe B. and Denny Classic.
By ERIC MCGUFFIN
Editor
demcguff@ius.edu
