WINONA LAKE - A familiar face will once again be seen on the sidelines this winter at the Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Jon Yeh, who served as the top assistant on Jim Kessler's men's basketball staff from 1999 to 2005 will return for the 2009-10 season. Yeh joins the Lancers after three years as the head men's basketball coach at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts."I am very pleased to work with Jon again," said Kessler. "Since we coached together for many years, his return will make for a seamless transition as we go forward as a team. He was a part of the recent back-to-back Elite Eight appearances at the national tournament in that he was involved in recruiting many of the players on those teams. He was even involved in the recruiting process of several of this year's returning players. Jon is quite familiar with our recruiting base and the Indiana prep basketball scene. "
During his time at Eastern Nazarene from 2006 to 2009 Yeh inherited a program that had struggled prior to his arrival, and in his three years the Crusaders increased their win total by two games each year. The crusaders won the TCCC Team Sportsmanship Award in 2006-07 and 2008-09 under his leadership.
"It's very exciting to return to a basketball program and an institution that I know so well," said Yeh. "I know I have grown tremendously as a coach in the three years I was away from Grace, and I look forward to blending my experience with that of Coach Kessler and Coach (Don) Zawlocki to keep Grace an elite program."
During his time at Grace, the men's basketball program experienced a great deal of growth. Yeh was instrumental in signing the last two NAIA All-Americans that have received the honor while wearing a Lancer uniform; Matt Abernathy (2000) and Eric Gaff (2009). In 2003, the Lancers were NCCAA National Runners-Up and improved their record every year accept one during his time on staff.
"Jon brings an expertise and understanding of the game in many areas and his skill set will be a nice compliment to our coaching staff," said Kessler. "He is familiar with the Grace family, alumni, and friends and will not be a stranger to Grace College Basketball. We have continued a close friendship during his years away and I look forward to having him rejoin our team."
Yeh will work in the Advancement office on campus while assuming all duties of assisting Kessler with the men's basketball program.
Yeh fills the assistant coaching position left open by Matt Moore, who took the head men's coaching position at Mount Vernon Nazarene University earlier this summer.
The Grace College men's basketball program finished the 2008-09 season with a 22-11 record and made it to the Elite Eight of the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri for the second year in a row.
