PEORIA, Ill. -- Chuck Buescher, a former two-sport student-athlete and coach at Bradley University and the longtime boys basketball coach at Peoria High School, is returning to his alma mater as a men's basketball assistant, fourth-year head coach Jim Les announced today.
"Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff," said Les. "I look forward to working with him on a daily basis as we continue to build a successful basketball progam."
"I am excited to be back as part of the Bradley Basketball program," said Buescher. "This program has so much potential and I am looking forward to working with a very talented group of young men."
Buescher's connection to Bradley Basketball officially dates back to his undergraduate days when he played both basketball and baseball for the Braves from 1963 to 1967. After graduating from Bradley in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Buescher began his coaching career as an assistant boys basketball coach at Peoria Manual High School from 1967 to 1970.
Buescher's first head coaching position was short-lived, leading nearby Washington High School to a 16-10 record in 1970-71, before returning to Bradley as an assistant basketball coach in 1971. Buescher remained on then head coach Joe Stowell's staff for eight seasons, while also guiding the baseball team to a 127-136-1 record as the head coach during his final seven years (1973-79).
Buescher resumed his high school coaching career in 1979 by taking over the varsity boys basketball program at Peoria High School. During his 25 years at PHS, Buescher led the Lions to a 528-184 (.742) record and he ended his career with back-to-back Illinois High School Association Class AA state championships in 2003 and 2004. In addition to the two state titles, Buescher's Lions earned runner-up finishes in 1989 and 1983 and his teams won 21 regional titles, including 18 in a row to end his prep career.
Among his many awards, Buescher was twice named the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class AA Coach of the Year (2003 and 2004) and he was a five-time District 12 Coach of the Year. Twice honored by the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame, including a picture this past winter, Buescher coached at several high school all-star events, including the 2004 EA Sports Roundball Classic in Chicago.
Buescher returns to the Hilltop with several connections to the basketball program. His son, Eric, is beginning his fourth year as an assistant for the Braves. Chuck Buescher also coached a pair of Bradley players, senior forward Marcellus Sommerville and sophomore point guard Daniel Ruffin, at Peoria High School. Ruffin was a senior on the 2003 state championship squad, a team that also featured current Los Angles Clippers rookie Shaun Livingston.
