(New Carlisle) — One of Michiana’s top basketball players in recent years is ready t o take on the challenge of coaching.

Drew Lutz, who starred at both Penn High School and Bethel University, is taking over as the head boys basketball coach at New Prairie. Lutz was approved by the New Prairie school board Monday night.

Frequently described as a “coach on the floor” during his playing days, the former point guard will take over a program that has won only two sectional titles since the school opened its doors in 1968.

Lutz scored 1,079 points in his career at Penn, leading Al Rhodes’ Kingsmen to the 4A Semistate in 2019. While at Bethel, Lutz was named team captain and led the Pilots to a 20-win season and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament.  In 2023-24, the NAIA All-American led that division in total points scored (736), points per game (24.5), and free throws made (182).

Lutz gained coaching experience last year as an assistant at New College of Florida.