Boys basketball: Dan Gundert hired as Columbia coach

Dan Gundert wasn't actively searching for another head coaching position but he found an opportunity that was too good to pass up. On Friday, Gundert was announced at the new boys coach at Columbia High School, replacing Josh Scharf who parted ways with the school in March. "The Columbia job was very appealing," Gundert said. "I thought the administration and leadership team's energy and culture aligned with what I believe. The way they hold their athletes accountable across the board was very appealing to me."Gundert was previously the head coach at Wellington where he complied a 121-129 record in 12 seasons before leaving after the 2021-22 season. The last four years he's been an assistant coach at Elyria, working with Brett Larrick to help lead the team to two Southwestern Conference championships and a regional final appearance this past season. "This all kinda came at a weird time," Gundert said. "I was super happy at Elyria. I can't speak highly enough about the time I spent at Elyria and what went on there."While at Wellington, Gundert won Lorain County Coach of the Year awards in 2012 and 2018, and was named Northeast Lakes District coach of the year in 2018. "I've always wanted to be a head coach again. It's always been in the back of my mind," Gundert said. "Brett is such a good friend of mine and us coaching together was so special. I wasn't looking for a head coaching role right now ... this kinda just came at the right time and the right place."Gundert is taking over a program that appears ready to win. The Raiders are coming off of a 13-11 season, have had five consecutive winning seasons and expect to have eight returning seniors next year."Anybody who coaches at any level, anything you do, you learn from," Gundert said. "I've learned a lot of things in the last four years that I think are going to make me a better coach, both on the floor and off the floor."It was Gundert's leadership qualities that impressed Columbia athletic director Jason Ward. "We are ecstatic that Dan is joining our team here at Columbia. He not only brings an impressive resume as a head coach, but we think very highly of what he did as an assistant at Elyria as well," Ward said in a press release. "Certainly, Dan's leadership qualities were impressive, but more importantly, we feel he can bring out the leadership qualities in our young men."Gundert had a chance to meet many of the members of his new team at an open gym earlier this week. Now he's ready to get to work. "Credit to the way that program's been run and the kids they have there. It's been a really good program," Gundert said. "The message I gave the team is I'm not winning any press conferences here. My job is to get to work and make you better basketball players."Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.