Steve Drabyn leaving Bethel men's basketball for Marian. Here's why

Family first.

That's the key reason, according to Steve Drabyn, on why he is leaving Bethel University as its men's basketball coach.

Drabyn has resigned from the position after seven seasons. He will remain there until April 19 and then will take over as the new men's basketball coach at Marian University in Indianapolis on April 20. The news was first reported by Adam Nelson of Hoopdirt.com.

"First and foremost, this is about my family," said Drabyn in a phone interview Wednesday morning. "I'm super grateful to Bethel for the last seven years. Tony Natali (former Bethel Athletic Director) gave me an opportunity there to be a head coach for the first time.

"It's bittersweet because it's tough to leave the people at Bethel. Bethel president Dee McDonald and AD Jason Lewkowicz are just first class. It's tough to leave those two. But this is a professional opportunity for me at a great institution that has everything in place to be successful at a high level. I'm completely at peace with my decision."

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Drabyn and his wife Brittany have four children ages six, eight, 10 and 12. Drabyn's parents live in Avon near Indianapolis. He also has a brother and two sisters in the Indianapolis area, including sister Kristin Wodrich, who is an assistant coach for the Butler women's basketball program. His wife's parents live in Madison, which is about 100 miles south of Indianapolis.

Drabyn went 118-61 in his seven seasons after being hired in 2019 to replace Ryne Lightfoot. He made it to the NAIA National Tournament in 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026, and the Pilots were the NCCAA national champions in 2023.

Bethel coach Steve Drabyn addresses his team during a timeout in an NAIA men’s basketball game against Huntington Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Bethel University in Mishawaka.

Drabyn is a former star guard at LaPorte High School. He was an Indiana All-Star in 2000 and set the national career high school free throw record as a Slicer at 92.1% from the line. He played at Belmont University in Tennessee from 2000-2004, where he scored 1,237 career points. He was a co-captain at Belmont and in 2003 led the NCAA nationally in free throw percentage at 95.1%.

"On behalf of everyone at Bethel, I would like to thank Steve for all he has done leading our men's basketball program the last seven years," said Bethel Director of Athletics Jason Lewkowicz in a release posted on the Bethel athletics website. "We wish him well in his future endeavors and I look forward to identifying the next leader of the Bethel men's basketball team."

Lewkowicz added in the release that a nationwide search has commenced for Drabyn's replacement.

Drabyn, who will turn 45 in July, guided Bethel to a 26-9 mark this past season. The Pilots went 12-6 in the Crossroads League, which Marian is a member of. Bethel, which was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally during the season, lost in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament, then saw its season end on March 20 with a victory and a fifth-place finish in the NCCAA National Tournament.

Marian finished 5-23 overall and 2-16 in league play during the 2025-26 season. The Knights finished the season under the direction of interim coach Todd Howard. Marian head coach Pat Knight resigned in February due to a conflict with Marian Director of Athletics Steve Downing, according to Knight. Pat Knight, the son of former Indiana University coach Bob Knight, was 16-34 overall and 7-23 in conference play at Marian after being hired in 2024 after 10 years as a scout for the Indiana Pacers.

Downing played for Bob Knight at Indiana, where he was the Big 10 MVP in 1973 after averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and leading the Hoosiers to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, Downing, a 6-9 center and native of Indianapolis, was also a member of the 1974 Boston Celtics team that won the NBA title. Downing teamed with George McGinnis in 1969 to lead Indianapolis Washington to a 31-0 mark and a state championship.

"I look at this as just a great coaching opportunity for me in the best league in the country," Drabyn said. "The Crossroads League is an absolutely phenomenal league. I chose to come coach in this league for a reason, and that's to go against the best.

"In my seven years at Bethel, I've gotten better as a coach. I've had to because of the conference we play in and the coaches and players in our league. I look at this new job and I get excited about it. I look at the resources that Marian has and I'm fully confident that myself and my staff can institute a culture there and have a team that the Marian community will be proud of."

Drabyn was an assistant coach at Lipscomb University from 2013-19 before coming to Bethel. His final team at Bethel is slated to return all but one player next season. The Pilots averaged 87.7 ppg this past season and had five players average in double figures, led by Austin Cripe at 16.5 ppg. Cripe is a junior guard who played at West Noble High School in Ligonier.

The Marian roster this past season had no seniors among the 16 players listed on its roster. The Knights had 14 players from Indiana, including former Penn High School guard Dominic Bonner. The 6-3 redshirt freshman did not play this season due to an injury sustained during football season. The Knights had three players average double figures, led by junior forward Aaron Humphrey Jr. at 15 ppg.

"I was focused on my team at Bethel until our season ended," remarked Drabyn. "Then, when it was over, I put my efforts into the Marian job.

"Leaving the people at Bethel is hard, especially with such great experiences that our teams here have had the last four years. But it's what is best for my family."

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Steve Drabyn leaving Bethel for Marian University basketball coach job