Jordan Scheidecker — an adaptive sports and disabilities support services expert, three-time national championship wheelchair basketball player and national championship coach — has been named wheelchair basketball head coach and disability services specialist at St. Clair County Community College.

“Scheidecker brings to SC4 hands-on experience planning and implementing high-quality adaptive sports programs and experiences,” the college said in a news release. “He also brings recruitment and diversity, equity and inclusion-based expertise and knowledge. His past roles include transition and outreach specialist at the Center for Students with Disabilities, graduate assistant of Adaptive Athletics and assistant director of Wheelchair Basketball Camp, all at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.”

A disability awareness speaker who travels throughout the Midwest, Scheidecker earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jordan to campus,” SC4 Chief Diversity Officer Jessica Brown said in the release. “His diverse combination of work and athletics experiences uniquely positions him to lead and support students on the court and across our campus. As one of just a few adaptive sports teams in Michigan — and the only community college in the nation — SC4 and its students will benefit greatly by having Jordan as part of our team.”

“I’m really excited to join the SC4 community and create greater awareness, participation in and support for adaptive sports and students with disabilities,” Scheidecker said. “We want to be a place that helps people find success and ultimately move on to where they want to go, athletically and academically. Through my roles at SC4, I look forward to doing just that by advocating for more awareness, leading and supporting students, and providing information from the perspective of a person with disabilities to an able-bodied, diverse population.”

Scheidecker will start in his full-time capacity in late October, though he will be on campus prior to that for the third annual Wolverine Invitational and adaptive sports clinics to teach individuals how to play Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at the SC4 Fieldhouse.

The tournament is hosted by University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness in partnership with SC4 and supported by the Guardian Life Insurance Company.

Committed 2023 Wolverine Invitational teams thus far include top teams from across the United States and Canada, including the University of Michigan (NWBA Adult D2), LWSRA Hawks (NAWBL) – Chicago, Kitchener Spinners (CWBL D1) – Ontario, London Forest City Flyers (CWBL D2 / NWBA Adult D3) – Ontario, Brampton Rockets (CWBL D2) – Ontario, University of Arizona (NWBA Intercollegiate Women), Southwest Minnesota State University (NWBA Intercollegiate Men), and the University of Wisconsin Whitewater (NWBA Intercollegiate Men).

With a full tournament schedule forthcoming, the University of Michigan tips off against the University of Arizona at 7 p.m. Sept. 29, and the championship game is set for Oct. 1 at noon, with a 12:20 p.m. tip off planned.

Additionally, SC4’s new wheelchair basketball team will take on Michigan State University at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 30 in the Wolverine Invitational’s Emerging Teams bracket.

“This is high-level competition,” Scheidecker said. “The caliber of athletes is impressive and something the entire region should get excited about and attend. I’m looking forward to it.”

“The rapid growth of our team has been a delight to watch,” Director of U-M Adaptive Sports & Fitness Dr. Feranmi Okanlami said in a release. “This team has put in countless hours to ensure that this event is one to never forget. I want to personally thank all the teams, volunteers, referees and sponsors who chose to support this event. Together we will continue to do great things to support the growth of para sport. Go Blue.”

U-M Wheelchair Basketball Head Coach Jessica Wynne said the tournament is an “instant classic.”

“Our players love the camaraderie and competition,” Wynne said. “We are grateful for our partnership with SC4 and thrilled to see them taking to the courts as a team. Our team has grown immensely and we are poised to contend with every team. We are exciting to watch, steeped with talent and aim to be the hardest-working team out there. I think everyone in attendance can look forward to seeing some high-level wheelchair basketball throughout the weekend and the season to come.”

People from the community also will have the opportunity to try adaptive sports during an Adaptive Sports Clinic from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the SC4 Fieldhouse.

“SC4 is honored to once again partner with the University of Michigan to host the Wolverine Invitational at the SC4 Fieldhouse,” SC4 Senior Vice President Dr. Pete Lacey said in the release. “The U-M Adaptive Sports & Fitness staff has been instrumental in building awareness and opportunities for our campus and community. We look forward to welcoming so many incredible teams this year and we’re excited to have our own Skippers wheelchair basketball team as part of the event. I encourage all sports fans and community members to come to support this great event. Get ready to watch some of the best athletes in America compete for the Wolverine Invitational title.”

The tournament will follow a round-robin pool play, leading into the quarter-finals and semi-finals on Sept. 30. For more information about the event, including schedules, streaming, ticketing details and updates, visit umadaptivesports.com, follow @umichadaptivesports on Instagram or visit sc4.edu/wolverine.

The co-ed SC4 wheelchair basketball team is open to SC4 students and community members with disabilities or those who are able-bodied and passionate about wheelchair basketball, with priority given to students enrolled at SC4. For more information about joining the wheelchair basketball team at SC4, visit sc4.edu.