Valparaiso Crusaders promote Matt Lottich to head coach replacing Bryce Drew

Three-year Valparaiso assistant coach Matt Lottich was officially named as the new head coach of the Crusaders on Thursday afternoon.

The school moved quickly following the official announcement of Bryce Drew as new coach at Vanderbilt. Top assistant Roger Powell was expected to be in the running for the position, but it appears that Powell will be following Drew to coach the Commodores.

It the first head coaching position for Lottich who played his collegiate ball at Stanford from 2000-2004. He earned honorable mention All Pac-10 during his senior year as the Cardinal took the Pac-10 title.

Since graduating from Stanford, Lottich played professionally in Japan, Germany and New Zealand. He helped to found the TEAM Life Skills basketball camp, and also worked with the National Collegiate Scouting Association.

Lottich is a native of the Chicago area, and should help Valparaiso maintain its pipeline into the city and suburbs. That will come in handy as he will immediately have to fill some big holes in the Valparaiso lineup.

Alec Peters is going to test the NBA Draft waters, and even if he pulls out, he will graduate this summer leaving the door open for a graduate transfer for his final season.

Plus Keith Carter, E. Viktor Nickerson, Darien Walker and Vashil Fernandez, have completed their careers.