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Showalter steps down at Germantown to join Randall's staff at DII Lindenwood

05/19/2015, 10:00am CDT
By Mark Miller

The architect behind the state's longest winning streak is moving on.

Steve Showalter, who guided Germantown to a state-record 69-game winning streak and three straight WIAA Division 1 state championships, resigned his position as the Warhawks' head coach on Monday in order to accept an assistant coaching position at Lindenwood University, a NCAA Division II school located in St. Charles, Missouri.

At Lindenwood, Showalter will work for head coach Lance Randall, who guided Oshkosh West to WIAA Division 1 state titles in 2006 and 2007. Randall was hired at Lindenwood earlier this month after serving as the head coach at St. Leo College in Florida the past four seasons.

The Lindenwood position opened up earlier this spring when former coach Brad Soderberg, a one-time head coach at the University of Wisconsin, accepted an assistant coaching position under Tony Bennett at Virginia.

"Though this is an exciting time for me, there are so many wonderful memories and people I need to thank," Showalter said in his resignation letter to Germantown athletic director Jack Klebesadel. "I have been blessed to coach some incredible players/teams through my years at Germantown.

"It takes more than one person to have a successful program. The administration, coaching staff, parents Germantown HOOPS and loyal community members helped to create such special memories and demonstrated incredible support."

Germantown dominated the Wisconsin high school basketball scene the past four seasons, winning 69 consecutive games and capturing WIAA state titles with victories over Milwaukee King in 2012, Mukwonago in 2013 and Neenah in 2014.

The Warhawks went 27-0 last winter before losing to Stevens Point in the state-title game.

In 15 years at Germantown, Showalter's teams went 286-81 for a .779 winning percentage. Six of his teams advanced to the state tournament.

Showalter coached some stellar players at Germantown, including Luke Fischer, Zak Showalter, Ben Averkamp, Jake Showalter, Josh Mongan, Evan Wesenberg and Lamonte Bearden, among many others.

Former Brookfield Central coach Mark Adams, now an assistant at Gremantown, said Monday night he is not interested in replacing Showalter as head coach, but would like to stay with the program as an assistant.

Germantown is expected to be among the five top teams in Wisconsin once again next season as Northern Iowa recruit Juwan McCloud (5-11) headlines a talented cast of returning players that also includes Max Keefe (6-6), Conner Edmonds (6-4), Tyler Behrendt (5-10) and Kyle Clow (6-3), among others. 

"Victories are great and Germantown has had many of them," Showalter said. "But most importantly, this program has always been about the kids. That's what makes this decision the hardest for me. Without great student-athletes, and more importantly, wonderful people, these memories would not as special. I appreciate the entire Germantown family for creating a special place for me and my family."
 

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