Oetjen Returns to Bethel Men’s Basketball as Assistant Coach

by | Aug 1, 2022 | Basketball Blogs, Headlines | 0 comments

MISHAWAKA – Bethel Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steve Drabyn has announced that Caleb Oetjen has joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2022-23 season. Oetjen returns to his alma mater after serving last season on staff at Arizona Christian.

“We are really excited to bring Caleb Oetjen back to Bethel,” stated Drabyn. “He will have a tremendous impact on our program. He brings instant credibility with his successful playing career here at Bethel and having tremendous team success while here. During our three years here, our staff has worked hard to build relationships with former players and coaches and Caleb has developed a close friendship with us.”

While at ACU, the Firestorm were ranked in the top ten in every poll and as high as No. 4 in the nation. They advanced to the NAIA Fab Four before being eliminated by eventual national champion Loyola.

“I’m so thankful to Coach Drabyn for giving me this opportunity to serve the program as an assistant coach,” stated Oetjen. “Bethel has been a huge part of my life and I’m looking forward to making a difference within the men’s basketball team. It’s humbling to return as a coach after playing from 2013-17.”

Prior to his time in the desert, Oetjen spent two seasons as the Recruiting, Travel, and Player Development Coordinator for Mount Vernon Nazarene where he helped the Cougars complete each semester with a team GPA of 3.3 or better.

“One of the biggest reasons I’m in coaching is because of what I experienced as a player under Coach Mike Lightfoot,” explained Oetjen. “His ability to relate to players, call players up, and love the players is what made him special. I’m thankful I now get to serve the players within the Bethel family—past, present, and future.”

Oetjen graduated from Bethel in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in marketing. In 2021, he completed a master’s degree in business administration focusing on organizational leadership at Mount Vernon Nazarene.

Oetjen parlayed his basketball career at Bethel—where he finished top 50 in program history in career scoring with 1,204 points and was named the Crossroads League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and an NAIA First Team All-American in 2016-17—into professional stints in Lithuania and Germany.

Twice, Oetjen has traveled to the Dominican Republic on mission trips. Combined with his success on the court and his humanitarian work, Oetjen was named the NCCAA Pete Maravich Award winner in 2017.

“We have learned of Caleb’s love for Bethel, a love for his family, and a love for Jesus,” described Coach Drabyn.  “These things will not only impact our players but our staff and Bethel community as well. We look forward to having Caleb, his wife Taylor—who is expecting child no. 2—and daughter Emmalyn Jo be a part of our Bethel family.”

“Let’s go to work,” declared Oetjen. “Go Pilots!”

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