Eakins makes change at Grace College

BLOOMINGTON — As a young Indiana University basketball fan, one of Ryan Eakins’ goals was to one day play for the Hoosiers.

While Eakins didn’t get to realize that dream, he did get to experience sitting on the visiting team’s bench Tuesday night at Assembly Hall.

He is an assistant basketball coach at Grace College, located at Winona Lakes, near Warsaw.

The Lancers and Hoosiers played an exhibition game, and Indiana won 96-73.

“I actually got to put together the scouting report for tonight’s game,” Eakins said. “I’m an Indiana fan through and through, and my dream growing up was to play here on this floor for the Hoosiers.

“I watched every single Indiana game last year (either on TV or on tape), so I know most of these guys in-and-out.”

Jim Kessler, head coach of the Lancers said, “We were talking before the game, and it has always been Ryan’s dream to play here. I said, ‘Ryan, the opportunity for you to coach here is probably a greater thrill, because your chances of playing here probably aren’t as good as coaching and you are actually coaching.’

“He has good knowledge and understanding of the game. He’ll be terrific high school coach some day.

“His decision to play or coach was a hard one for him. He could have done either, but I think long term, his coaching now will jump-start his career in a way that playing wouldn’t have done.”

Eakins played with the Lancers the past three seasons, and helped Grace advance to the final eight of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament in Branson, Mo. the past two years. Eakins said he was the back-up point-guard last season, and averaged about nine minutes per game.

When one of the Lancers assistant coaches moved to another college over the summer, Kessler contacted Eakins and asked him if he would like to coach.

“He knew I wanted to be a coach some day, and called me in and he offered me to join the staff this year,” Eakins said.

“We have a JV team this year so I’m heading that. This is the first year for our JV program.”

Eakins was a guard at Seymour High School and at Grace, and works with the back court players during practice.

Grace is a member of the Mid-Central Conference, made up of teams from Indiana and Michigan.

Eakins said he and other members of the coaching staff will scout MCC teams during their non-conference games in November and December.

He will be on the bench during all of Grace’s games keeping statistics.

“I keep how opponents do each possession, whether we’re in man or whether we’re in zone, and how they’re doing against each separate defense.

“I’m still new at coaching, and the thing I love is I get to see things, and to think about things like what is going on right now, and what do we need to change and what is working? This year is about seeing a lot of basketball and learning.”

Eakins said he has a different view the game now that he is coaching. “I do have a lot of friends on the team, and it is different. But, the good thing is all the guys on the team are real close, and the chemistry is real good, which has always been a plus about going to school at Grace and playing basketball there.

“The chemistry is phenomenal, so the guys are really open to any encouragement, constructive criticism and stuff like that, so there haven’t been any issues so far and that is really a blessing to play with guys and to coach guys that are willing to listen.

“These guys played hard tonight and that is what they do all the time, and they always play together.”

Grace was 22-11 last winter and has three starters returning.

“Our offense is changing, moving from completely post-orientated to more guard-orientated because we have some shooters,” Eakins said.

Eakins has been a three-year starter on the Grace baseball team at second base and shortstop, and said he will play some third base in the spring.

He is currently student teaching at Warsaw High School.

“My dream is to coach basketball, so I hope it comes true,” Eakins said. “I want to coach at the high school level.”

Kessler said, “Now he has on his resume that he was an assistant college coach. We put him in a position to help us scout and recruit, and begin to make coaching decisions.

“When it’s all done, coaching will further his education and opportunities more than playing another year, even though it may have been more fun for him.

“It was a thrill for him to be on the sidelines at Indiana University. He’s been so pumped ever since he realized we were playing here.”