Hoefler resigns at Shelbyville to accept coaching position at Avon

Becca Hoefler believed interviewing for the vacant Shelbyville girls basketball coaching position would be great experience for other interviews she had scheduled much closer to home.

The Valparaiso native was seeking her first head coaching position and the Golden Bears needed a complete rebuild of its program. Her meeting was with Shelbyville athletic director Jenny DeMuth-Hensley.

“I didn’t know a thing about Shelbyville,” said Hoefler Tuesday morning after being hired as the new girls basketball coach at Avon High School. “I had more interviews scheduled up north. Then Jenny interviewed me and I grew up watching her in high school.”

DeMuth-Hensley was an Indiana All-Star in 2001 after a stellar career at Highland High School in northern Indiana.

Hoefler was hired and immediately went to work on a program that won just five games in the previous two seasons. The Golden Bears finished 4-20 in her first season but the foundation was set.

The program won eight games in year two and 11 the next season. Three straight winning seasons followed, including going 14-11 this past season without a senior on the roster.

Meanwhile, Hoefler was pondering her next career challenge. Avon offered that opportunity to build another program.

The Orioles have not had a winning season since before Hoefler was hired at Shelbyville and play in one of the toughest conferences in the state (Hoosier Crossroads) which includes Brownsburg, Fishers, Franklin Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville, Westfield and Zionsville.

“It was time to take the next step in my coaching career,” said Hoefler. “I’ve done a lot the last six years. I had a friend that knew the (Avon) athletic director and said it was a good job. It’s a tough conference. It’s a very tough area to play in. It’s a tough schedule.”

Hoefler met her new team Tuesday. As she did when she arrived at Shelbyville, the expectations were set high.

Avon finished 11-13 last season with a senior-heavy roster but had successful junior varsity and freshmen programs, according to Hoefler. And the school system is opening a third middle school later this year.

While there is excitement surrounding a new opportunity, it meant she had to tell her rising seniors, who were fifth graders when she arrived, that she was leaving.

“I don’t think I’ve ever experienced heartbreak like that when I had to tell them,” she said. “Having to tell them I was moving on was not easy.”

Shelbyville has won 15, 15 and 14 games in the last three seasons and returns its entire roster. No rebuild will be necessary for the next coach.

“I did it with a really good coaching staff and a really good athletic director,” said Hoefler. “I am leaving Shelbyville better off than when I came in.”

And Shelbyville will always hold a special place in her heart. 

“It’s the start of my career,” she said. “Kathleen Miltz (former Shelbyville principal) and Jenny are the reasons I got hired as a head coach with no experience. They took a chance on me. It’s a great group of girls (there). I’ve had so much fun the last six years.”

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