Coach has women’s team ranked No. 22 in AP preseason poll
Bethel looks to follow NCAA Tournament appearance with another successful season.
By Mathias Durie | Royal Report
Bethel University Women’s Basketball Coach Jon Herbrechtsmeyer blows his whistle and orders his team to make 30 jump shots before practice ends in the Robertson Center gym. The girls immediately begin shooting as their coach looks and offers encouragement and criticism where it is needed.
“It’s a statement of the strength of our program and the legacy left by past players,” — Jon Herbrechtsmeyer, coach
Coach Herbie, as the team refers to him, took over the head coaching job at Bethel in the fall of the 2001 season and is now in his 26th season of coaching basketball. His team made the NCAA Division III National Tournament last season for the first time in 20 years. This season, the team has had a number of players go down with injuries, including the preseason All-American Rachel Parupsky, but that doesn’t have them or their coach worried. The team has had a number of young players step up and continue to produce at a high level.
“It’s a statement of the strength of our program and the legacy left by past players,” Herbrechtsmeyer said referring to having a number of players fall victim to injury.
The 2015–2016 team is ranked 22nd in the AP Preseason poll put together by D3hoops.com. This ranking system puts together a poll of the top 25 teams in the nation. This is the first time ever that the team has ever been recognized in this ranking. The women’s basketball team was also voted number one in the MIAC by coaches. The 2015–2016 team is returning seven of last year’s top eight scorers and all five starters from last season.
“Coach Herbie encourages us players to not only succeed on the basketball court, but to achieve in life, academics, and most importantly our walk of faith,” freshman point guard Lily Porta said.
During his time at Bethel, Herbrechtsmeyer has made 6 MIAC playoff appearances, has back to back 20 win seasons in 2013 and 2014 and in 2009 brought the program its first winning season since 1996. He has been very successful and is looking to keep that success going in this upcoming season.
“He is successful because he never lets us settle for good when he knows we can be great on and off the court,” Porta said
The team begins their season on Tuesday with a Non-Conference game against Northland College and follows that with a tournament in Illinois on Friday. The Royals home opener and first MIAC match-up is on Dec. 2 2015 in the RC gym.
Won/Lost records during Herbrechtsmeyer’s career:
2001–2002: 4–21
2002–2003: 6–19
2003–2004: 11–14
2004–2005: 8–16
2005–2006: 13–13
2006–2007: 12–13
2007–2008: 12–13
2008–2009: 15–12
2009–2010: 11–14
2010–2011: 15–11
2011–2012: 14–12
2012–2013: 6–19
2013–2014: 20–7
2014–2015: 21–7
