Last week Portland State Athletics Director Tom Burman announced Heath Schroyer as the new men’s basketball head coach.
Schroyer comes to PSU after spending the past season as an assistant at the University of Wyoming. There, the Cowboys earned their first NCAA Tournament bid in 14 years and went on to upset Gonzaga in the first round.
As the program prepares for its 42nd season, Schroyer (30) is the 10th men’s basketball coach in PSU’s history.
“This job has untapped potential and there is no question in my mind that this can be the best job in the Big Sky Conference,” Schroyer stated in a recent press release. “I think the administration from the top down is supportive and wants to get this done. I’m just happy to be here and be the basketball coach at Portland State University.”
“Heath caught my attention when he was involved in the incredible turnaround at BYU a few years ago and he continued that success in his time at Wyoming,” Burman said. “Going into this process we knew Heath was a guy that had all the qualities Portland State needs at this time. He is a great teacher, great motivator and an excellent recruiter with western ties.”
Before Wyoming, Schroyer was an assistant at Brigham Young University for four seasons. Under head coach Steve Cleveland, the program went from 1-25 to a 24-9 record four years later and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2001.
Originally from Walkersville, Md., Schroyer played high school basketball at DeMatha High School. Schroyer was a captain and team co-MVP as well as the Most Valuable Player in the Washington D.C. city title game.
Upon graduation, Schroyer played at Kings River Community College and became an All-Conference performer leading his team to the California CC Final Four in 1991-92. He then moved on to Armstrong Atlantic State where he led the team to the NCAA II Sweet 16.
Schroyer also packs a punch academically with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Armstrong State and a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership at National University (Fresno, CA).
Portland State has signed one player to a letter of intent for the coming year, Marshal Hartman from Beaverton’s Westview High School. The Vikings currently have eight returning letterwinners and two redshirts on the roster for 2002-03.