Kessler Leaving A Lasting LegacyWINONA LAKE – “Even a marathon has a finish line.”
About to complete his 42nd season as Grace College’s men’s basketball coach, Jim Kessler is eying the finish line of his career.
Kessler, affectionately known as Coach K, made his retirement announcement Monday morning and used those words in front a large crowd gathered in the alumni suite at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Kessler, who was emotional at times during the announcement, will hang up his whistle next month after the Lancers host the NCCAA Tournament.
Scott Moore, a current Grace assistant coach and former standout for the Lancers, has been tabbed as the program’s next head coach.
“I genuinely feel the time has come for me to pass the baton and cheer for one of my coaching proteges, Scott Moore,” said Kessler, who has coached at Grace almost 10 years longer than Moore has been alive.
“I have run hard and done my best to finish strong, and I am so thankful that Grace College has supported me in this decision. I cannot thank my Lord enough for allowing (my wife) Susanne and I the joy of pursuing a career of coaching and teaching. Few men are so blessed to get paid to do what they thoroughly enjoy. I pray that my career can be best summed up with my life verse in Philippians 3:14. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Kessler, originally from Missouri, played for the Lancers and coach Chet Kammerer.
After a stint in the United States Army, Kessler embarked on a coaching career in Winona Lake that has seen him serve under five Grace College presidents – current president Dr. Bill Katip is the sixth in school history – and eight athletic directors.
Along the way, he’s led the Lancers to 785 wins, 10 conference championships, 18 seasons with at least 20 wins and 19 national tournament appearances.
The crown jewel among those 785 wins is the 1992 NAIA Division II national championship.
Kessler led the Lancers to the semifinals of the 32-team national tournament in 2013.
He has been inducted into the NCCAA (1994), Grace College (2008) and NAIA (2016) Halls of Fame.
In 2005, Kessler was presented the Pete Thorne Memorial Award.
A year later he was given the NABC Guardians of the Game National Award for Service.
Kessler has hosted coaching clinics at the NCAA Final Four, served as a court coach for USA Basketball’s World University Games Training Camp, and has organized an annual tournament to benefit the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund.
“Coach Kessler has had an immeasurable impact on our basketball program, our campus, the Winona Lake/Warsaw community and the entire state of Indiana,” said Grace College Director of Athletics Chad Briscoe.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to learn from and serve alongside him for 11 years. Coach K and his family have touched the lives of countless student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans, and he is truly one of the greatest servant leaders in his profession. His desire to impact men for Christ through basketball has built a legacy that will last a lifetime.”
The 33-year-old Moore has been an assistant on Kessler’s staff for seven years.
Moore is a 2004 graduate of Columbia City High School, and as a senior he and twin brother Marcus led the Eagles to the Class 4A state championship game, in which they faced future NBA first-round picks Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr.
Moore was a point guard for the Lancers and ranks sixth in program history with 555 career assists. As a senior in 2008, Moore – again playing with his twin brother, and with older brother Matt on staff as an assistant – led Grace to the Elite Eight of the NAIA Division II national tournament.
He has also coached Grace’s womens tennis team, and in 2016 was named the Crossroads League Coach of the Year.
“This is something I’ve dreamed about ever since I was a freshman in high school, and I am extremely grateful that the Lord has blessed me with an opportunity to coach basketball at my alma mater,” said Moore.
“Thank you to Dr. Bill Katip, Coach Briscoe and the administration for believing in me and trusting me to run this program. And thank you to Coach K for mentoring me, loving me and giving me this opportunity. I am very honored to become the next head coach at Grace.”
Moore is the fifth men’s basketball head coach in the history of Grace’s program, which dates back to 1957.
