Published: April 24, 2008 10:12 am         

Matt Windy is new Central basketball coach

Ted Foland, Elkhart Central High School athletic director, didn’t have to look far to find the Blue Blazers’ next boys basketball coach.

Foland announced Wednesday afternoon that Matt Windy, who has coached the Central girls team for the past two seasons (16-28 record), would be taking over the boys program.

He replaces Mike Drews who coached the Blazers for 11 years, compiling a 111-118 record. Drews resigned his coaching duties after last season.

Central (6-18) nearly won the Class 4A sectional at North Side Gym, but lost 57-56 to Warsaw on a last-second shot.

“I watched a lot of the boys games last season and that was a pretty good team on the floor in the sectional. They were just a little unlucky,” Windy said.

Among players expected to return for next season are seniors-to-be Jamar Johnson and Mark Sutter and junior-to-be Josh Riikonen.

“Matt was selected from a group of 25 applicants,” Foland said. “His energy, passion, family values and knowledge of the game made him stand out. He did a tremendous job with our girls program.”

Windy, an Illinois native, came to Central as an assistant to Drews in the boys program.

“I have to thank Mike (Drews) for making me feel at home after moving from Illinois,” Windy said. “He invited my family to his house for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“One of the things he taught me was to be a professional. We share North Side Gym with Elkhart Memorial for practice. When Memorial had the gym, he told people to stay away from the windows because that was their time.”

Matt and his wife Jill have three sons — Ty 6, Jacob 3 and Nathan 4 months.

“My wife is so supportive,” Windy said. “She knows the time commitment coaching takes. Her father is a Hall of Fame baseball coach in Illinois. He has eight players in the Major Leagues, so she understands what is involved.”