In a move that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in tradition, Mishawaka Marian has turned to one of its own to lead the boys basketball program. After 16 seasons as an assistant coach, Matt Sobieralski has been named the new head coach—a promotion that speaks volumes about loyalty, resilience, and the power of community.
The timing of Sobieralski’s appointment, made official on Monday, May 11, was anything but ordinary. Just eight days earlier, he was leading a rosary in the high school’s chapel for assistant coach Brian Foster, who was hospitalized after a serious car accident on May 1. Foster underwent successful neck surgery that same day, and Sobieralski interviewed for the head coaching position just two days later. It’s the kind of emotional roller coaster that would test anyone, but Sobieralski found strength in the very relationships that define Marian basketball.
“He would always dap me up and say, ‘You’re the next guy,’ in his Brian kind of way,” Sobieralski recalled of Foster’s encouragement. “I did use that. It was an influential way of being able to get through that interview. It’s been a roller coaster.”
Foster’s wife, Natasha, texted Sobieralski to congratulate him on the new role, and he promised to visit Foster at Memorial Hospital to share the news in person. That deep sense of connection may well be Sobieralski’s greatest asset as he steps into the head coach’s shoes.
His journey with the Knights began as a student, and for the past 16 years, he has served as both a teacher and an assistant coach. Athletic Director Steve Ravotto recognized that while this is Sobieralski’s first IHSAA head coaching gig, his institutional knowledge and passion for the program are unmatched.
“With his expertise, he will continue to build on our past successes as he brings a culture of new ideas to lead the next generation of Marian Knights,” Ravotto said in a press release.
Sobieralski admitted he was initially hesitant to apply for the job, which opened after the March 25 firing of 16-season head coach Robb Berger. But with the support of his family, his faith, and the unwavering belief of a friend fighting to recover, he took the leap. Now, he’s ready to write the next chapter for a program that means everything to him.
For fans of Marian basketball, this hire signals continuity with a fresh perspective—and a reminder that sometimes the best leader is the one who has been in the trenches all along.