Miami University and Its Coaching Legacy
Miami University has a well-established reputation for its coaches. Known as the Cradle of Coaches, the university boasts legendary figures across various sports. Many of these coaches share a common journey, moving from athletes to mentors after their playing days at Miami.
Dan Luers: A Rising Coach in Men’s Basketball
Currently, Dan Luers is making the shift to coaching as he prepares for the upcoming 2025-26 season with the men’s basketball team. He started his collegiate journey at Defiance College, where he averaged 16.4 points per game during his single season there. Luers later transferred to Eastern Illinois University, where he played for three seasons and participated in all 32 games during his final year.
Contributions on and off the Court
In his final college season, Luers played in 12 games for Miami, averaging 5.2 points per game. Notable moments included scoring 20 points against Defiance and 18 points on senior night against Ball State University. However, his most significant contributions often went unnoticed on the court.
Head coach Travis Steele praised Luers, stating, “He was a huge key to our success last year… an energy giver who was all about the team.”
Mentorship Through Competition
Luers brought immense energy during practice, often tasked with guarding standout senior guard Peter Suder. Despite the challenge, Luers thrived in this role, contributing to Suder’s success, who ended the season as Miami’s leading scorer and earned recognition on the First-Team All-MAC and as the Blue Ribbon MAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Transition from Teammate to Coach
After discussions with the coaching staff, Luers accepted a graduate assistant (GA) position. This transition means coaching players he used to call teammates. Luers mentioned, “It’s interesting coaching them, but since I already had strong relationships, they make the transition easier.”
Learning and Adapting
Adjusting from player to coach requires guidance, and Luers has sought advice from former coaches, including Marty Simmons and Kelvin Moss. He emphasized the value of learning from Miami’s strong coaching staff, stating, “I try to model it after the guys here… and develop my own coaching method.”
Looking Ahead
Despite being early in his coaching career, Luers is already having a positive impact. “He’s a born leader,” Suder remarked. Luers will officially begin his coaching journey when Miami men’s basketball opens the season on November 3 against Old Dominion in the MAC-SBC Challenge.
