PELLA— Ryan Schmitt, an Iowa native and former NCAA Division I basketball player at Illinois State University, is joining the Central College men's basketball coaching staff as a varsity assistant.
           
Schmitt comes to Central after spending the 2024-25 season as a graduate assistant men's basketball coach at Illinois Wesleyan University. The Titans went 24-6 and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Championships.

           
In three seasons playing forward at Illinois State, the 6 feet, 11 inch Schmitt appeared in 46 games and started five times. He scored 122 points and snared 92 rebounds in his career. Prior to Illinois State, Schmitt played two seasons at Des Moines Area Community College. He served as a team captain in 2020-21 as DMACC won the NJCAA Division II title.
           
Schmitt will work with first-year head coach Conor Riordan, who as an assistant last season for the Dutch helped the program to an American Rivers Conference tournament championship and a bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.