Marian Coach Berger Suspended for Regional Title Game, Assistant Takes Over

Mishawaka Marian will pursue its first regional title since 2022 without the coach who built the program, after the school imposed a one-game suspension on head coach Robb Berger for a repeated IHSAA rules violation.

Marian Athletic Director Steve Ravotto confirmed the discipline Thursday. "Coach Berger is suspended for one game due to an IHSAA rule violation," Ravotto said. "Coach Sobieralski will be the interim coach for the regional game." Assistant coach Matt Sobieralski will lead the Knights when they face East Chicago Central at Michigan City High School at 5 p.m. ET Saturday, March 14, in the Class 3A regional championship.

The suspension stems from Berger allowing a non-member of the Knights' roster or staff to practice with the team, a repeated IHSAA violation, according to reporting by the South Bend Tribune and WNDU. The school self-reported the infraction and imposed the one-game ban without a formal sanction from the IHSAA. Jason Wille of the IHSAA confirmed the suspension but directed further comment back to Marian's administration. "I can confirm that he was suspended for the regional championship game on Saturday, but this was a self-reported suspension made by the school," Wille said. "It would be more appropriate for any comment to come from their administration."

Berger, described by the South Bend Tribune as the Knights' 19th-year leader, has coached Marian since the 2010-11 season and has never finished a season with fewer than 14 wins. He has eight campaigns of at least 20 victories, with his best mark a 22-4 record achieved in both 2011-12 and 2019-20. The suspension is limited to one game: if Marian wins Saturday and advances to semi-state, Berger is immediately reinstated.

The Knights enter the regional at 17-7 and riding a seven-game winning streak, having knocked out South Bend Washington and Culver Academies in earlier playoff rounds. East Chicago Central, their opponent Saturday, comes in at 14-12.

Sobieralski takes over a program that has not appeared in a regional since 2022, giving the Knights their best shot at a deep postseason run in four years, regardless of who is standing on the sideline holding the clipboard.