HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College is pleased to announce it will name its basketball court and its baseball stadium after legendary coaches Dan and Dave Schmotzer. The Schmotzer brothers, who retired from the coaching ranks at Coker following the 2015-16 season, spent nearly 30 years as the head men's basketball coach and head baseball coach of the Cobras. Combined they had more than 1,000 victories, eight conference titles, and 10 All-Americans.
The main basketball court at Coker's Harris E. and Louise H. DeLoach Center will be named "Dan Schmotzer Court" and the Cobras' baseball stadium will be named "Dave Schmotzer Stadium".
Coker will officially name each venue during the Cobras' 2017 Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017.
As part of the celebration to honor Dan and Dave Schmotzer, Coker is asking alumni, friends and fans to make a donation to The Schmotzer Legacy. Gifts made to the Schmotzer Legacy will benefit Coker Athletics and ensure that the legacy built by the Schmotzer brothers is preserved for future Coker student-athletes.
The Schmotzer's Legacy goes beyond the court or the field; it is about the relationships they built with their teams and the Hartsville and Coker communities.
According to 2004 Coker Hall of Famer and men's basketball alum Dan Shanks, class of 1997, "Whether Coach Dan was teaching me to be a better teammate, son, brother, or husband, his lessons rang true, endured, and always showed me he cared more for those around him than he does for himself. He always found the way to reach his player's heart. While I no longer hear his whistle and stern voice telling me to 'get back' or 'bend your knees', he still finds a way to connect and provide the necessary humor, guidance, or toughness to guide me through my life."
"Coach Dave taught us about more than just baseball," said 2016 Coker Hall of Famer and baseball alum John Curnias, class of 1996. "He had life lessons engrained in his coaching techniques that are still relevant, and I have used them everyday after 20 years. His legacy is not just about baseball, but preparing student-athletes for the real world."
There are several ways people can donate:
1. Donate Online
• Go to www.coker.edu/gifts and fill out the donation form.
• Under "Designation" select, "The Schmotzer Legacy"
• Complete the remaining information with credit card or bank account info
• If you want to make the gift over time, please check the "Recurring Gift" box at the top
and designate the amount and length of time.
2. Donate by check
• Make your check payable to "Coker Athletics"
• In the memo section write: "The Schmotzer Legacy"
• Mail to: Coker College
Attn: Christian Stryker
300 E. College Ave
Hartsville, SC 29550
3. Donate over the phone
• Call Christian Stryker at 843-383-8068 to make your donation over the phone via credit
card.
For more information on the 2017 Coker Homecoming festivities visit http://coker.edu/after-coker/events/homecoming-2017