Bierman Taking Over Newton H.S. Basketball Program

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Published on March 21 2018 6:51 am
Last Updated on March 21 2018 6:53 am
Written by Millie Lange

Troy Bierman knows Newton pretty well. He is originally from Newton and graduated from Newton High School. So, taking over the head basketball coaching job after Doug Mammoser retired this past season, is a dream come true.

“I’m excited about it,” said Bierman. "Of course I have some nerves because it’s a new job. I have laid out what I want to do and hopefully, what I’m going to bring into the program works. It will be different from Coach Mammoser. I’ll have my spin on things and a new voice.

“I have lofty goals but also realistic goals. I think we have a shot to do something special. There are talented kids here.  They have always had talented kids. I want to be able to have the same success Coach Mammoser had and build upon it.”

Bierman attended Lake Land College for two years after graduating from Newton High School and then finished up his teaching degree at Eastern Illinois University.

“I taught two years at Salem and the last 12 years at Teutopolis,” said Bierman who has been married 12 years to wife Heather. The couple have four children, Katherine 9, Kimberly 7, Jeffrey 4 and Andrew 2.
Bierman coached basketball one year at Salem and eight years at Teutopolis. He also volunteered three years at Newton under Coach Mammoser.

“Coach Mammoser taught Science at Newton and I’m also taking over that teaching position. I’ve actually been an assistant coach at Newton this last year and then two years ago.

“I know the kids. I know what he did in the past and just built off that.  I’ve learned from some of the best coaches in the area. Hopefully, that will continue to help me in my coaching career.”

What’s in store for his Eagle teams?

“I’m a defensive guy,” said Bierman. “I love the defensive end. I stress defense. If the other team can’t score, we’ll have a hard time losing. Offensively will be dictated by personnel. I’m not going to say we’re going to run when we have slower guys. I’m going to play off the strengths of the kids who are on the team at the time.

“I haven’t had a chance to meet with the kids yet. I know who is coming back. In a couple of weeks I’ll have a meeting for the kids coming back and incoming freshmen as well to find out numbers for the program.”

Bierman has coached other sports besides basketball.

“At Salem, besides basketball, I was assistant cross country and head baseball coach,” said Bierman. “Here at T-town I’ve been helping with fall baseball for 12 years with Coach Fleener. I did spring baseball until 2010 and since then I’ve been girls track coach and then of course, basketball coach.

“I helped Coach Fehrenbacher in 2008-2009 with freshmen/sophomores then took one year off when we had our first child in 2009. From 2010-2011 until 2015 I coached junior varsity. That’s when Coach Hanson came in and I wasn’t on staff then.

“Then in 2015-2016 I was a volunteer coach at Newton and the next year I took off then the next two years I coached freshmen/sophomores. I wanted to stay in basketball.

“My goal was to be varsity basketball coach somewhere. I wanted to get back to the school and community that was great to me. I always root for Newton and I’m just excited to go back there and build upon the success of the program and to be a force.”