IU East names track and field coach/men's basketball assistant
RICHMOND, Ind. - Give Tyler Daugherty a shot and he usually makes it count.
He proved it during his basketball career at the University of Dubuque. And he plans to prove it again at Indiana University East.
Daugherty has been appointed to the position of recreation center coordinator and coach, the school announced July 6.
Daugherty will serve as the Red Wolves' men's and women's track and field head coach and as men's basketball assistant coach.
He also will oversee IU East's Graf Recreation Center.
Daugherty, 24, is a native of Bellevue, Iowa. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Dubuque (Iowa).
"I wanted to coach, and the (position) asked for three things - basketball, track and running a recreation center - where I had experience and passiom," Daugherty said.
"Sports is my passion. I don't see myself doing anything else. It's what I want to do and what I've wanted to do since I was a young kid. It's always been a part of my life."
Daugherty most recently served as an assistant coach for the University of Dubuque men's basketball team and as boys track and field coach at Bellevue (Iowa) High School during the 2009-10 school year.
Daugherty helped Dubuque, an NCAA Division III program, to an 18-9 record during the 2009-10 season. It was the school's best season in almost 20 years.
His Bellevue boys track and field team won a conference championship. Daugherty was named the league's coach of the year.
"I'm a younger coach, so I can relate to the athletes. I've been on the floor, been on the field recently," Daugherty said.
"I can offer another view of the game, how to get better and prepare."
Daugherty enjoyed a productive playing career for Dubuque.
He started at guard during all four of his college seasons. He led the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring as a junior and as a senior.
He finished his career as Dubuque's all-time leader in career 3-pointers made with 255. He is second on Dubuque's all-time career assists list with 354 assists and fifth on the career scoring list with 1,724 points.
He was a two-time D3hoops.com All-West Region selection. He was Dubuque's Athlete of the Year as a senior.
"We are pleased to have Tyler and look forward to what he can bring us," said IU East athletic director and men's basketball coach Mark Hester.
"We've had a tradition of really good assistant coaches with coach (Jim) Aller (during the 2008-09 season) and coach (Dominic) Tharpe (during the 2009-10 season), and we look forward to Tyler continuing that tradition."
Daugherty is engaged to Tory Medinger, also of Bellevue.
"I'm excited to be here and be given the opportunity to start my career and start a family in Richmond and at IU East," Daugherty said.
"I'm fortunate the school had trust in me to help better the athletic department. I look forward to building a successful track program and build off of what has been done in basketball the past three years."