Four-time national coach of the year Josh Schertz enters his 13th season as the head men’s basketball coach at Lincoln Memorial University.
LMU has amassed a remarkable 318-65 (.830) record in 12 seasons under Schertz’ direction, which is currently the second-highest winning percentage in the history of college basketball at all levels for a head coach with at least 10 years of head coaching experience. The Railsplitters have won eight South Atlantic Conference regular season titles during that span, along with five tournament championships. Schertz has been named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year a record seven times (2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020) while earning Southeast District Coach of the Year recognition from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on four occasions (2011, 2016, 2018, 2020). His 13 total SAC championships are the most of any coach in league history and he is the only coach in the conference to lead a SAC team to multiple NCAA Division II Final Four appearances, including the 2016 National Championship game.
Under Schertz’ leadership LMU has been a model of consistency, posting 11 consecutive 20-win seasons and making nine trips to the NCAA Tournament. The Railsplitters became just the second team in the history of Division II basketball to post four consecutive 30-win seasons from 2014-18, while their streak of 95-straight weeks in the national poll was the second-longest of all time. LMU has finished the season ranked in the top two nationally in three of the last five years and has held the top spot in the country on 10 different occasions since 2012. During his tenure, the Railsplitters have notched five 30-win seasons and claimed at least 25 wins nine times.
From 2010-19, LMU was the second-winningest basketball program in all of Division II, going a phenomenal 272-50 for a .845 winning percentage. In Schertz’ 12 seasons in Harrogate, the Railsplitters have been elite inside their home venue as LMU has gone a remarkable 175-16 (.916) at B. Frank “Tex” Turner Arena.
The Railsplitters have also rewritten the conference record book, setting marks for wins in a season (34), consecutive wins (32), consecutive conference victories (36), consecutive conference road wins (25) and most wins in a four-year period (126). They are the only team in SAC basketball history to complete an undefeated regular season, accomplishing the feat three different times (2015-16, 2017-18, 2019-20). LMU is also the only program in the SAC to win 20 or more games in a row, something the Railsplitters have done on five separate occasions since 2010. Performing on the biggest stage, LMU has posted a 15-8 mark in the NCAA Tournament, including going 11-3 in their three most recent trips with a national title game appearance, two Final Fours and three NCAA Regional Championship games.
The 20-win seasons, SAC regular season and tournament championships, as well as the postseason wins, national ranking and NCAA Tournament appearances are all first-time occurrences for the LMU men’s basketball program in its NCAA era. In the five seasons prior to coach Schertz’ arrival, the Railsplitters had won only 39 games total after posting just seven winning seasons at the NCAA level.
Schertz’ dedication to excellence in every area of the program has resulted not just in unparalleled success for his teams, but for individual players as well. His commitment to player development has resulted in a nation-leading nine All-Americans since 2011. LMU has also produced 17 professional players since 2011, the most among any Division II program, to go along with five conference players of the year and 45 all-league selections.
In the classroom, the numbers are just as astounding as the focus on academics by Schertz’ staff has led to the eight highest semester grade point averages in program history. Since taking over the program, Schertz has witnessed 34 of 37 seniors who have completed their playing eligibility at LMU graduate. Along with the 17 who have signed professional basketball contracts, 15 of Schertz’ former players have received or are currently pursuing their master’s degree.
In his 12th year as the Railsplitters’ lead man, Schertz guided LMU to its fifth 30-win campaign in six years, a pair of SAC titles, a nation-leading 32-game win streak and a No. 2 national ranking. Tabbed Division II National Coach of the Year by
Basketball Times, Schertz claimed both NABC Southeast District Coach of the Year and SAC Coach of the Year laurels. It marked the seventh time in 10 seasons Schertz was named the league’s coach of the year. He was also tabbed Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Coach of the Year for the second time in his career (2016) after leading the Railsplitters to a remarkable 32-1 (.970) record in 2019-20, the highest winning percentage for a season in both school and conference history. Schertz earned
Division II Bulletin/SNA Sports February Coach of the Month honors and was selected as
HoopDirt.com NCAA Division II Coach of the Week for the week of Feb. 24-March 1.
Appearing in both national polls for the entirety of the 2019-20 season, it was the seventh time since 2010-11 LMU was ranked among the top 25 for the whole year. Despite the season coming to an abrupt halt due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Railsplitters set both a program and SAC record for consecutive victories. No other team at any level of collegiate basketball owned a longer win streak than LMU’s 32-game run to conclude 2019-20. Completing their third undefeated conference season in the last five years, the Railsplitters went a perfect 22-0 in SAC play and posted an unblemished 25-0 mark against league opponents, not to mention a perfect 17-0 record inside B. Frank “Tex” Turner Arena. Capturing their eighth SAC regular season championship and fifth SAC Tournament title since 2011, LMU earned the No. 1 seed and was set to host the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Southeast Regional Championship for the fourth time in six seasons prior to the cancellation of the postseason.
Schertz won his 300th career game on Wednesday, Jan. 8 with a 76-64 conference home victory over UVA Wise, reaching 300 career wins in only 365 games as a head coach. He moved into fourth place in SAC history in overall victories (318) and is in second place in all-time league wins (200).
Four of Schertz' players garnered all-conference accolades following the regular season, including SAC Player of the Year, SAC Defensive Player of the Year and two first-team selections. The Railsplitters had three all-region honorees and an All-American with two players appearing on the 2020 Bevo Francis Award Top 100 watch list. Leading the nation in defensive field goal percentage (36.9), total rebounds (1,335) and defensive rebounds per game (33.09), LMU ranked in the top 10 in the country in several other statistical categories. Second nationally in scoring margin (23.3), the Railsplitters were third in total assists (635), fourth in assists per game (19.2), fifth in total three pointers (372) and sixth in shooting (51.7).
Schertz guided the Railsplitters to a 10th consecutive 20-win season and a ninth-straight top-two finish in the final SAC standings in 2018-19. Despite having one of the youngest rosters in the country with only one senior, the Railsplitters had five players receive all-conference recognition as LMU hosted a SAC Tournament opening round game for the 10th-straight season.
In 2017-18, Schertz directed one of the most dynamic teams in NCAA history as the Railsplitters won their sixth-straight SAC regular season title in dominant fashion after going undefeated (20-0) in league play. In doing so, LMU became what is believed to be the first team in NCAA history to lead the nation in field goal offense (53%), field goal defense (36.6%) and scoring margin (25.4 PPG). The Railsplitters posted a 32-2 mark, which included a 21-game win streak, and won the SAC Tournament for the fourth time in school history. Along the way, LMU posted its fourth consecutive 30-win season, made its eighth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and won at least 25 games for the eighth-straight season while appearing in the NCAA Regional Championship game for the third year in a row.
In 2016-17, Schertz led the Railsplitters to a conference-record fifth consecutive SAC regular season championship, a second-straight Southeast Regional title, a seventh-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and a second consecutive Final Four appearance. The success was accomplished despite LMU battling a myriad of injury problems during the season. The Railsplitters lost nearly 40 games of minutes to injury amongst their rotation players. After a slow start, LMU rattled off a 16-game winning streak to capture a share of the regular season title and advance to the conference tournament championship game for the sixth time in seven years. Finishing the season 30-6, the Railsplitters reached the 30-win plateau for the third consecutive season.
The 2015-16 season was one for the annals as LMU broke almost every record imaginable on its way to the Division II National Championship game. Not only did the Railsplitters become the first basketball team in SAC history, either men’s or women’s, to run the table in league play (22-0), but LMU also set single-season benchmarks for wins (34), consecutive wins (24), points per game (96.2) and three-pointers made (412). Schertz, a six-time finalist for the Clarence Gaines Award which is presented by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) to the Division II National Coach of the Year (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), was named Division II National Coach of the Year by the Hoop Group and was the recipient of the Clarence Gaines Award. The Railsplitters rolled to SAC regular season and tournament titles, while finishing ranked No. 1 nationally and securing the top seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. LMU’s accomplishments were even more remarkable as the Railsplitters had one of the most difficult schedules in the country and posted an 8-2 mark against nationally-ranked opponents.
Despite losing its two leading scorers from the previous season, including consensus First-Team All-American Vincent Bailey, LMU reloaded accordingly in 2014-15 and became the first team in the history of the SAC to win three consecutive regular season titles after posting a 30-3 record. Included was a 21-1 conference record and the third-longest winning streak in school and league history after a 20-0 start to the season. The Railsplitters were ranked No. 1 in the nation and were awarded the top seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. For his efforts, Schertz was named SAC Coach of the Year for a third time.
After a historic 2013-14 campaign, Schertz was tabbed 2014 Red Auerbach College Coach of the Year. Despite losing four starters from the previous year’s championship team, LMU set then school and conference records for wins in a season (28) and winning percentage (90.3%). The Railsplitters won both the SAC regular season and tournament titles while making its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and its third consecutive trip to the Southeast Regional semifinals. After going 28-3 overall and 20-2 in league action, LMU finished the year sixth nationally in the final rankings.
LMU’s run to a SAC regular season championship in 2012-13 was quite an accomplishment after losing two first-team all-conference selections and three starters from the Railsplitters’ 26-6 team of 2011-12. In 2012-13, LMU won its third SAC title and appeared in the conference tournament championship game for the second time in three years. The Railsplitters advanced to their third-straight NCAA Tournament and reached the Division II Southeast Regional semifinals for the second consecutive season. Additionally, LMU was nationally ranked all 15 weeks of the regular season for the second-straight year.
Despite graduating its top two players, the Railsplitters didn't miss a beat in 2011-12 as they became the first team in SAC history to be ranked No. 1 in the national poll. LMU went 14-4 in conference play, earned its second-straight NCAA Tournament bid and won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game, advancing to the regional semifinals with a win over King University.
In 2010-11, the Railsplitters had a record-setting season, going 27-3 and posting a then school and conference record 22-game winning streak. LMU also won its first-ever SAC regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Following the season, Schertz was named SAC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for Division II National Coach of the Year. On December 7, 2010, the Railsplitters broke into the NABC Division II national poll for the first time in school history.
During Schertz’ second year at the helm, LMU posted its first 20-win season at the Division II level in 2009-10, recorded its first-ever postseason win and was regionally ranked for the first time.
In his inaugural season at LMU in 2008-09, Schertz guided the Railsplitters to a 14-14 record, including an 8-8 mark in conference play. It was the most overall wins for a Railsplitter squad since 2002-03, while the eight SAC victories were a school record at the time.
Prior to his arrival in Harrogate, Schertz spent 10 seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at four different institutions. He was the associate head coach at Division I High Point University for five seasons, during which time the Panthers went 87-66 and set school records for wins, conference wins, road wins, and highest RPI ranking. During his time as recruiting coordinator, two players, Danny Gathings (2004) and Arizona Reid (2007, 2008), earned Big South Conference Player of the Year honors a total of three times. While at High Point, Schertz signed some of the best players in school history, including 2,000-point scorers Reid and Nick Barbour, along with all-time assist leader Mike Jefferson and all-time shot block leader Cruz Daniels.
Schertz arrived at High Point from fellow SAC member Queens University (N.C.), where he spent two seasons as the associate head coach. The Royals went 49-14 during that time, including a then school record 29 wins in 2002-03 when Queens advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history. While in Charlotte, Schertz landed Spencer Ross, who was named 2004 Division II National Player of the Year, along with All-American big man Moustapha Diouf.
Prior to joining Queens, Schertz spent two years at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, serving as the Knights recruiting coordinator. While at Lynn, the Fighting Knights went 37-18, but the five-man recruiting class Schertz signed in 2001 became his legacy as they went on to lead Lynn to a school-record 29 wins and a Final Four appearance in 2005. Schertz signed two players who were named Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year and four of his Fighting Knight recruits went on to earn all-conference accolades.
Schertz began his career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Florida Atlantic University, where he spent one season working under head coach Kevin Billerman.
Schertz, a 2000 graduate of Florida Atlantic University, also has a master’s degree in education from Lynn. He is married to the former Natalia Ceballos and is blessed with two children, Jordan and Jaden. They reside in Harrogate.
Schertz by the Numbers
| Season |
Record |
SAC |
Postseason |
| 2008-09 |
14-14 |
8-8 |
SAC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2009-10 |
20-9 |
9-7 |
SAC Tournament Semifinals |
| 2010-11 |
27-3 |
16-2 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
SAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional |
| 2011-12 |
26-6 |
14-4 |
NCAA Southeast Regional Semifinals |
| 2012-13 |
25-6 |
15-3 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional Semifinals |
| 2013-14 |
28-3 |
20-2 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
SAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional Semifinals |
| 2014-15 |
30-3 |
21-1 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional Semifinals |
| 2015-16 |
34-3 |
22-0 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
SAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional Champions
NCAA Tournament Runner-Up |
| 2016-17 |
30-6 |
19-3 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional Champions
NCAA Final Four |
| 2017-18 |
32-2 |
20-0 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
SAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional Championship Game |
| 2018-19 |
20-9 |
14-6 |
SAC Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2019-20 |
32-1 |
22-0 |
SAC Regular Season Champions
SAC Tournament Champions
NCAA Southeast Regional |
| Totals |
318-65 (.830) |
200-36 (.847) |
13 SAC Championships (8 Regular Season | 5 Tournament)
2 NCAA Southeast Regional Titles
Nine NCAA Tournament Bids |
