MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University director of athletics Chris Hmielewski announced today that Lew Shaver has been named the head wheelchair basketball coach at SMSU.

Shaver served as interim head coach during the 2009-10 season and has coached at SMSU for nearly 30 years.

“We are very fortunate to have Lew Shaver as our head coach for the Mustang wheelchair basketball program,” Hmielewski said.  “Lew will bring twenty-six years of coaching and teaching experience with him every day. He has a wealth of knowledge to share with our student-athletes on how to be successful in classroom first and foremost while providing them a great basketball education in practice and during competition.”

Shaver is no stranger to the program, having served as head coach for 24-plus seasons from 1967-95.  During his tenure SMSU finished 338-240 and won three national intercollegiate wheelchair basketball championships in 1981, 1983 and 1986.  SMSU also finished as national runners-up on six occasions.

Shaver returned to the SMSU sidelines as co-interim head coach during the 2007-08 season and was an assistant coach in 2008-09, before returning as interim head coach last season.

“I'm happy to be back as head coach,” Shaver said.  “Coaching is exactly what I want to do in my life as I love being around out student-athletes and working with the SMSU athletic department staff.  I can't wait to start the season as I feel we've got a great recruiting class in place and along with our returning players, it should be exciting season.”

SMSU finished 4-13 overall last season, but recorded a 2-1 record at the national tournament to earn fifth place.