Steffensmeier takes helm at alma mater Marquette

      WEST POINT ? Two years ago, Dave Steffensmeier was a part-time assistant coach with the Iowa Wesleyan College women?s basketball team.

      Now, Steffensmeier has been thrust into the spotlight since he took over as head boys basketball coach at Marquette Catholic, his alma mater. Marquette is expected to contend for the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) Class 1A title this season.

      ?Last year, I was approached to coach the junior varsity team at Marquette,? said Steffensmeier. ?I had no intention of coaching. I thought they could find someone else here. But, the kids are terrific and the parents are great. This has been enjoyable.?

      This summer, Dave Steffensmeier asked his wife Jeanne if he should apply for the vacant varsity boys basketball coaching position at Marquette. Jeanne told Dave to go for it.

      In the middle of July, the Marquette Catholic school board opted to give Steffensmeier the job. Steffensmeier takes over for former Marquette coach Aaron Becker, who is now a fifth-grade teacher at Van Allen Elementary in Mt. Pleasant as well as Panther assistant boys hoops coach.

      Becker guided the Warriors to a 21-2 record last season before they fell to arch-rival Fort Madison-Aquinas 42-41 in the IHSAA Class 1A regional final.

      ?Aaron was so good for these kids,? said Steffensmeier. ?But, he was given an opportunity he couldn?t pass up in Mt. Pleasant, which I can fully understand. I feel fortunate to be coaching this team and I feel I can take this team forward.?

      Said Becker of Steffensmeier: ?Dave brings a lot of knowledge of the game. He was a coach in college basketball. He knows Marquette?s tradition because he?s been around. Dave knows what basketball means there. He will be able to keep the guys together as a unit and provide leadership. The school will be well off.?

      Marquette steamrolled through the regular season until that point, blasting WACO in the playoffs in addition to winning the tough-as-nails Southeast Iowa Superconference South Division title.

      In fact, Marquette dismantled Class 2A state champion Danville twice. The only loss the Warriors incurred during the regular campaign was a one-point loss at Fairfield-Maharishi 64-63.

      Last year, Steffensmeier was head junior varsity coach. He also helped Becker with practices and he would scout future opponents.

      Steffensmeier was a standout athlete at Marquette, playing all five positions on the 1976 varsity basketball team for current New London girls hoops mentor Paul Lorber. Steffensmeier won the sectional and River Cities Conference golf meets in 1977 and he was also catcher on the baseball unit.

      Then Steffensmeier was on the golf team at Northeast Missouri State, now Truman State, in Kirksville. Steffensmeier earned his bachelor?s degree in recreation with a minor in business.

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