Cam Schuknecht has been promoted to head men’s basketball coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University to replace Mark Franzen, who has resigned and accepted the head men’s basketball post at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Schuknecht, who served as the top assistant coach under Franzen the last two seasons, has been actively involved in the recruiting process and has also helped coordinate the team’s summer camps.

“The continuity of coaching philosophy and work ethic should make this a smooth transition,” NWU Director of Athletics Dr. Ira Zeff said. “Our players worked extremely hard on and off the court under Mark’s leadership and we know that will continue with Cam’s guidance.”

“Nebraska Wesleyan is a tremendous school, rich in academic and athletic tradition, so I am honored to have this opportunity,” Schuknecht said. “We are excited about the direction of our program.”

Before arriving at NWU, Schuknecht served as an assistant coach for men’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf and as an associate lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology and Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In 2002-03, Schuknecht was an assistant coach at Wartburg College, where he helped the Knights post a 21-7 record. He played basketball at Wartburg from 1993-98 and was a two-year co-captain.

After graduation, Schuknecht was hired as assistant coach at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan., from 1999-2001. In 2001, he was promoted to head coach at Saint Mary, where he guided the Spires to a third-place finish in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and saw his team receive votes in the NAIA national poll for eight consecutive weeks.

Schuknecht received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Wartburg in 1998 and his master’s degree in exercise science from the University of Kansas in 2001.

“Cam has been a part of three highly competitive Division III programs and he understands the concept of the student-athlete,” Zeff said. “His experiences the last two years as an assistant here will be an advantage because he knows our players and understands the Great Plains Athletic Conference and what it will take to be successful in the GPAC and at the NCAA Division III level.”

Franzen, who will also serve as assistant athletic director for resource development at Luther, finished with a 23-29 record in his two seasons at Nebraska Wesleyan. In 2005-06, the Prairie Wolves won the College of St. Scholastica/Wells Fargo Shootout, were co-champions at Nebraska Wesleyan’s Snyder Classic and finished as runner-up at the Division III Independent Tournament.

"I have enjoyed my time at Nebraska Wesleyan and will miss being a part of the program we were building here,” Franzen said. “Going to Luther College as the head men’s basketball coach gives me the opportunity to get back in the Iowa Conference and be closer to my family in Northeast Iowa. The Nebraska Wesleyan administration and community have been great to us."

“I really appreciated Mark’s leadership of our men’s basketball program,” Zeff said. “Mark has a great opportunity for he and his family and though I’m sorry to see him leave, I wish him the best.”

Cam Schuknecht has been promoted to head men’s basketball coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University to replace Mark Franzen, who has resigned and accepted the head men’s basketball post at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Schuknecht, who served as the top assistant coach under Franzen the last two seasons, has been actively involved in the recruiting process and has also helped coordinate the team’s summer camps.

“The continuity of coaching philosophy and work ethic should make this a smooth transition,” NWU Director of Athletics Dr. Ira Zeff said. “Our players worked extremely hard on and off the court under Mark’s leadership and we know that will continue with Cam’s guidance.”

“Nebraska Wesleyan is a tremendous school, rich in academic and athletic tradition, so I am honored to have this opportunity,” Schuknecht said. “We are excited about the direction of our program.”

Before arriving at NWU, Schuknecht served as an assistant coach for men’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf and as an associate lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology and Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In 2002-03, Schuknecht was an assistant coach at Wartburg College, where he helped the Knights post a 21-7 record. He played basketball at Wartburg from 1993-98 and was a two-year co-captain.

After graduation, Schuknecht was hired as assistant coach at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kan., from 1999-2001. In 2001, he was promoted to head coach at Saint Mary, where he guided the Spires to a third-place finish in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and saw his team receive votes in the NAIA national poll for eight consecutive weeks.

Schuknecht received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Wartburg in 1998 and his master’s degree in exercise science from the University of Kansas in 2001.

“Cam has been a part of three highly competitive Division III programs and he understands the concept of the student-athlete,” Zeff said. “His experiences the last two years as an assistant here will be an advantage because he knows our players and understands the Great Plains Athletic Conference and what it will take to be successful in the GPAC and at the NCAA Division III level.”

Franzen, who will also serve as assistant athletic director for resource development at Luther, finished with a 23-29 record in his two seasons at Nebraska Wesleyan. In 2005-06, the Prairie Wolves won the College of St. Scholastica/Wells Fargo Shootout, were co-champions at Nebraska Wesleyan’s Snyder Classic and finished as runner-up at the Division III Independent Tournament.

"I have enjoyed my time at Nebraska Wesleyan and will miss being a part of the program we were building here,” Franzen said. “Going to Luther College as the head men’s basketball coach gives me the opportunity to get back in the Iowa Conference and be closer to my family in Northeast Iowa. The Nebraska Wesleyan administration and community have been great to us."

“I really appreciated Mark’s leadership of our men’s basketball program,” Zeff said. “Mark has a great opportunity for he and his family and though I’m sorry to see him leave, I wish him the best.”