2011 Roncalli High School graduate and Manitowoc native Ben Stelzer has moved from Houghton, Michigan to Santa Cruz, California.
Stelzer, who was an outstanding athlete with the Jets before starring in basketball and in the classroom at Michigan Tech University, accepted an assistant coaching job this summer with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Ben got word of the opening through his connection with Washington University head coach, Pat Juckem, a former Roncalli teacher and coach.
“He knew somebody within the Warriors organization which kind of helped my situation,” Stelzer explained to Seehafer News. “Definitely learned over the past few years and its in every industry to talk about who you know in terms of coaching, especially at the professional ranks that’s maxed out even more. But, I’m fortunate and thankful to be here in Santa Cruz…that’s for sure.”
Stelzer says that after 2 years as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech, he and his wife Emily decided it was time for a change.
Ben, who is now 30, says working in the G League is really not that different from being a D-3 or D-2 college assistant.
“I’m doing everything from player development, working with guys, film work, and eventually will be helping out with scouting,” he explained “My exact title is coaching associate/basketball operations.”
With past experience like playing professionally in Spain, doing an internship in Player Development with the Dallas Mavericks, and being a coaching assistant at ‘Tech and UW-Oshkosh, Stelzer has short and long-term goals.
“Short term, I definitely hope to be back here for at least the next couple of years,” he said. “Long term, I would like to be a head coach at some point, and obviously goals can change. But, right now frankly I’d like to be an NBA head coach someday. Maybe that will happen. Maybe it won’t. I guess we’ll just see what God has in store.”
The son of John and Maureen Stelzer was also asked about the difference in the weather in moving from Houghton to the west coast.
Ben said he got a text from a coaching associate recently saying they had multiple inches of snow in the Upper Peninsula.
That day it was 70 and sunny in Santa Cruz where he biked to work, drove past palm trees, and heard waves crashing on the shore.
He added, “Emily and I are excited for something new and really enjoying the California weather here in Santa Cruz.”
