Schiller assumes Ranch reins

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Well after his players have walked out of the gymnasium, Lakewood Ranch boys basketball coach Jeremy Schiller stands on the court with a basketball in hand.

He eyes the hoop, bounces the ball, eyes the hoop again and eventually fires up a shot. Schiller continues shooting hoops for a little while longer before eventually turning out the lights and walking out the door.

His work is done for the day; but if you ask Schiller, basketball is anything but work.

“When you love something and are passionate about it, you want to do it,” he said. “I try to be the best at everything I do. I don’t think there’s a time when I’m not coaching basketball. I don’t really take time off.”

Now in his first season at the helm, Schiller is hoping to create a culture characterized by a strong work ethic.

“The biggest thing for us is discipline and hard work,” Schiller said. “I believe that effort can make up for a lot of mistakes. We’ve had our growing pains, but effort is something we always bring every single night.”
Schiller was named the Mustangs new head coach at the beginning of the school year, but he didn’t start working with his players on basketball related drills until about three months ago.

“It’s a testament to them,” Schiller said. “They are willing to work hard, and they can be confident every time they step onto the court that they’ve out-worked everyone prior to this moment. These are the type of kids that if they work hard, they’re going to grow and get better.”

Schiller looked into a handful of high school coaching jobs, but Lakewood proved to be the perfect fit.
“Just how hard they worked to get me here and how they run their programs — I was really blown away,” Schiller said. “It’s just an awesome place. I’m really fortunate.”

Schiller, whose first sport was soccer, began playing basketball at age 13. He scored two points his first year on the court and had to fight for positions on his middle-school team. He then played basketball for four years at Brandon High, suiting up with 13 players who went on to play collegiate basketball and two now in the NBA. But at 5-foot-8 — and one of only three players on his team who couldn’t dunk — Schiller knew his days as a player were numbered.

“I think my coach liked me more for (my intensity) than my contributions on the court,” Schiller said. “I was a captain. I was always intense — whether I was in the game or (on the bench). I knew even if I wasn’t going to be out there on the court I could still contribute as much.”

Schiller played briefly at Eckerd before turning his attention to coaching. He spent a year as an assistant coach for Brandon’s JV team and then the next three years at the helm. Under Schiller, the Eagles went 53-4 and had the first undefeated season in Hillsborough County.

“I’m a very competitive person,” Schiller said. “I love being a part of a team and working together for a common goal. I’m always trying to see what I can do for the people around me.”

After earning degrees in sports management and business administration from Florida Southern College, Schiller went on to work as a graduate assistant at the University of South Florida, where he earned a master’s degree in physical education.

Upon graduation, Schiller spent a year coaching at Seminole Osceola High before spending the next four years as an assistant coach at Eckerd. But over time, Schiller began to miss coaching at the high school level.

He returned to Brandon last year to help a former player coach before assuming Lakewood’s head coaching job.

“This is year 12, and I have no plans of going anywhere,” Schiller said. “ I really love this level. I just like the high-school level. It’s my own program and I can do what I want. I’m really excited and looking forward to (the future). It’s not if we win a state title but when. It’s just a matter of time.”

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].