State and national titles accompany Luers, USF and North Side coach's enshrinement on April 30
Growing up in Decatur, Gary Andrews never envisioned his basketball career would take him to the Hoosier state's hallowed halls of hoops.
“You wouldn’t think a kid who grew up in the country in Decatur, Indiana, would make the Hall of Fame,” Andrews jokes. “It’s a pretty cool honor.”
Andrews, who led Bishop Luers to three straight girls basketball state championships from 1999 through 2001 and Saint Francis to the NAIA women's national championship in 2014, is one of 11 inductees selected to the Class of 2022 women’s induction class.
The ceremony is scheduled for April 30 in Indianapolis.
Andrews was a standout basketball player at Bellmont High School, earning 1986 Adams County Player of the Year and 2nd team All-Northeast Indiana Athletic Conference as a senior. The Braves won two NEIAC titles and a sectional title his junior year.
After an injury sidelined his playing career at Judson University, Andrews turned to coaching.
“I started coaching an AAU team,” Andrews tells the Parkview Sports Network. “The AAU team wound up being really good, and winning national championships in three out of five years.”
That success carved a coaching path for Andrews over the next three decades. He started as a junior varsity boys basketball coach at Bellmont. At age 25, Andrews was hired as the head coach of the Bishop Luers girls team. In nine seasons, the Knights won 79.1 percent of their games with five Summit Athletic Conference championships, five SAC Tournament titles, six sectional titles, four regional titles, three semi-states and state titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Luers’ third title came with a perfect 29-0 season and a three-year stretch of 81-2 record.
“I remember the first year (Luers) went to state. We got to play at Market Square Arena. That was the last year for Market Square Arena. Growing up, I always wanted to play at Market Square Arena.”
Luers' second-straight title would come at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Knights’ third championship was won at a brand new Conseco Fieldhouse.
Andrews would move on to USF in 2001, winning 322 games in 14 seasons. Andrews capped his time at Saint Francis with a NAIA Division II National Championship in 2014. His team finished a perfect 38-0 that season.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to coach all the players I’ve been able to coach,” Andrews beams. “Going into the hall of fame gives you a look back at some of the teams and a chance to reminiscence a little bit.”
Andrews then moved onto NCAA Division II school Roberts Wesleyan College. Roberts won the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship in 2016, and Andrews was named national coach of the year in 2016.
Andrews returned to the prep sidelines in 2019—this time as the head boys coach of the North Side.
"There was always a part of me that wanted to coach boys basketball,” Andrews says. “I came back, and I’m glad that I did. North Side has been a big challenge, but I think we have things going in the right direction.”
North Side High School and the University of Saint Francis partner with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, sports performance, nutrition, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services for their student-athletes. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.
written & produced by Eric Dutkiewicz