Sarah Lawrence basketball looks to box out the competition this season
BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — Sarah Lawrence is a private college that participates in NCAA Division III sports and is a part of the Skyline Conference. The Sarah Lawrence men’s basketball team has had a lot of success in recent years. Due to the unforeseen circumstances of 2020, the 2020-21 season was never really able to get underway. The team was only able to play two regular season games, resulting in two wins against Connecticut College last March.
The Sarah Lawrence Gryphons are coached by Chris Ehmer, who joined as the head coach in 2012. Coach Ehmer is not only the men’s basketball coach, but also the Associate Director of Athletics, a role he’s had since 2015. This means he’s in charge of scheduling all varsity teams home and away games.
Coach Ehmer was named the Skyline Coach of the Year for the 2018-19 season after leading the Gryphons to a 14 win record and their best season to date. Coach Ehmer also helped the team earn their first ever playoff win in the 2019-20 season, when they defeated Manhattanville 75-66.
Coach Ehmer is a native of Pennsylvania. Before he became the head coach of the Sarah Lawrence men’s basketball team, he was the assistant coach at Kenyon College in 2010 and the head coach in 2011.
I was able to have Coach Ehmer set aside some time in his busy schedule to answer a few questions of mine about the Gryphons and himself before this upcoming 2021-22 basketball season.
It seems just about every season your team seems to improve, what do you say most or train most to have your players have such positive results?
“For us, it starts with finding the right student-athletes in the recruiting process. We look for players who compete, love basketball and have a growth mindset. Having a team with that approach has set the tone for our program. We have been fortunate to find those types of players over the past few years. On the court, we pride ourselves on our defense. That is where it all starts for us. Offensively, we focus most of our time on fundamentals: spacing, shooting and making simple plays. If we do those things consistently at a high level, we have a chance to be successful.”
You were named Skyline Coach of the Year for the 2018-19 season for leading the Gryphons to their best season to date with 14 wins, then followed that season up with an equally impressive 12 win season. Last season seemed to never really get started because of COVID-19, but what do you expect from yourself and your players for the 2021-22 season?
“That’s a great question. We certainly plan to build on the success of the past couple of years. Our expectation is to make the playoffs and compete for a Skyline championship. Right now, we are really just getting going with practice. This is a brand-new group, so it’s up to me and my staff to help this team come together and play their best. We have a team that wants to improve every day and a great staff, so I am excited about what we can do this year.”
I’m not sure if your roster for this season has been set yet but I was wondering how many returning players will there be or expected to be?
“Our roster is set for the season. We have 10 returners and six newcomers. It is a good mix of players with experience and new players ready to compete and get better.”
Besides coaching and being the Associate Director of Athletics, what do you do for fun or do to spend your free time?
“I love spending time with my family. My wife, Emily, and I usually take our daughter, Madison (3 years old), to Rockefeller State Park on the weekends. We love to hike and be out in nature. In the off-season, we like to travel as well.”
The Sarah Lawrence Gryphons will start their season off with a scrimmage against the Stevens Ducks on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
