Denis Schaefer has led the Grand View Vikings to success on and off the basketball court during his 25 years as Head Coach. The success his teams have on the court is only the beginning, as his players move on to become successful individuals upon their graduation from Grand View University.
Coach Schaefer has a true passion for coaching the game of basketball to young men. Teaching the game of basketball is when Coach Schaefer is at his best; his ability to coach the finer points of the game to players is what leads to the improvement that is always seen in his team. Good players leave as great players, and average players leave their program as good players. The players Coach Schaefer brings into his program are first and foremost good people. His players must have a passion for the game, be willing to work hard to achieve the highest level of play possible and be willing to put the team ahead of themselves. True success of the Viking program is what players accomplish ten and twenty years after they graduate.
Coach Schaefer has over 400 wins in his career and is in the top twenty of NAIA active coaches in wins. He is also the all time wins leader at Grand View. Coach Schaefer's teams are known to play man to man defense and is a big part of their identity. Offensively his teams will run the floor, play up tempo, and spread the floor with multiple players who can shoot from the perimeter. Coach Schaefer looks for selfless people and those who love to compete every day on the court, in the weight room, and in the classroom.
Former Players have this to say about their experience under Coach Schaefer at Grand View College.
Todd Lorensen: Former Player & Assistant Coach Under Schaefer
"I had the rare opportunity to not only play for Coach Schaefer for three years but also serve as his assistant for one season. Looking back over my time at Grand View a few things always stick out. Every team I was a part of was playing its best basketball at the end of the season. Further, Coach Schaefer did an excellent job of developing average players into good ones and good players into great players. The family atmosphere around the program makes me proud to be a Grand View Alum."
Ben Meyer: Former Player
"Coach Schaefer has a way of inspiring his players to get the most out of their talent. Coach does things the right way; his players really are students first. His players become better people after playing for him."
Ryan Baumgart: Former Player
"Coach Schaefer wants to win more than any coach I have been around, yet he makes playing for him a fun experience. I am still in regular contact with him and know he would do anything for me…….The positive changes that have been made to Grand View recently are amazing, it has really changed in the short time since I left Grand View."
Pat Hoberg: Former Player
"In my four years I learned so much about the game of basketball and developed my game through Coach Schaefer, but what I will remember most is the life lessons and responsibility he teaches all of his players from the day they walk on campus to the day they leave the program. The relationship that I have with ‘Schaef' will go way beyond the four years I played and will continue into the future."
Last season, the Vikings finished the year with an overall record of 17-11 and 12-7 in conference play. At the conclusion of the conference play, Grand View received the Heart of America Sportsmanship Award. The Vikings also qualified for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round where they fell to No. 5 Thomas Moore 81-74.
Schaefer was hired at Grand View in the fall of 1998. His first season at the helm of the Vikings saw the team advance to the Conference Championship game just missing a berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The team was well represented with postseason honors with Peyton Lesley earning All-American Honorable Mention, Midwest Collegiate Conference Player of the Year, and a career point total of over 1,000 points. Michael Stephany and Lamar Ingram both earned Honorable Mention All-Conference.
In his second season, the Vikings won the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament where they defeated Berea College and the number one seed Mid America Nazarene before falling to eventual National Champion Embry Riddle to finish in the final eight of the tournament. Derek Bills was named to the NAIA All-American Team and is the all-time leading scorer in Grand View basketball history. Michael Stephany and Curt Albert were All-Conference selections, while Lamar Ingram, Andy McGarry, and Jeremiah Ubben earn Honorable Mention.
In the 2000-2001 Season Coach, Schaefer was voted Midwest Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year. The Vikings also won the Conference regular season, and Conference Tournament Championship, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament for the second straight year coming up short against Evangel College in overtime. Mike Brinker and Ryan Baumgart were All-Conference selections for the Vikings as well.
The 2002-03 season saw the Vikings come up short in the Conference Tournament. Ryan Baumgart was named to the All-Conference team, with Mike Brinker and Brad Bach earning Honorable Mention. The 2003-04 season saw Nate Tigges earn Newcomer of the Year in the Conference. Nate Tigges improved his game the following season earning Conference Player of the Year and finished his career with over 1,000 career points. In 2005-06 the Vikings lost in the semi-final game of the Conference Tournament. Todd Lorensen was named All-Conference. Todd also earned All-Conference honors the following season and finished his career with over 1,000 career points. He was joined by Marcus Thie on the All-Conference Team. Marcus finished his Grand View career as a 1,000 point scorer as well.
Schaefer came to Grand View from Marycrest College where he served as an assistant coach for one season, before becoming the head coach for two years. He also served as the school's Athletic Director for three years. He joined Marycrest after spending three years at Bethel College in Kansas where he was the head coach for two seasons after spending one as the assistant. Schaefer began his coaching career at Blufton University in Ohio. In 2007-08 the Vikings finished the year with a record of 13-18, 8-8. While the team was not one of Schaefer's most successful teams in the win-loss column, it did prove to be one of the hardest working teams of his tenure. The team showed physical and mental toughness battling through injuries early in the season and eventually advancing to the Midwest Collegiate Conference semi-finals.
Coach Schaefer has a Master's Degree in Sports Management from the University of Akron. He completed his Undergraduate Degree in Physical Education from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.
Schaefer has been married to his wife Sara for over twenty years. They have two sons, Corey and Joe.
