Garrett Winegar, the highly successful head coach of the Fishers boys basketball program, has made the significant decision to transition from his established role. Following a tenure marked by exceptional achievements and a dominant record, Winegar is moving to Iowa United Prep, a burgeoning national program. This career shift underscores his desire for new challenges and a broader platform to contribute to player development.
Winegar informed his team on Monday about his departure from Fishers. His new role will be with Iowa United Prep, a relatively new institution based in Des Moines, Iowa. This organization is distinctive for its participation in the Nike EYBL Scholastic circuit during the academic year and the Nike circuit in the summer, highlighting its commitment to high-level competition and extensive player exposure. The move signals a strategic step for Winegar into a national basketball landscape.
During his six seasons at Fishers, Winegar amassed an impressive record of 132 wins against just 25 losses. His leadership culminated in a Class 4A state championship two years ago, achieved with an outstanding 83-3 record over the previous three seasons. The team also secured a state runner-up position last season. This season, Fishers was ranked No. 1 and maintained an undefeated 24-0 record until a narrow 50-49 loss to Carmel in the sectional championship.
The 34-year-old Winegar expressed that the prospect of coaching on a national stage was a major draw. At Iowa Prep, he will primarily coach the freshmen and sophomore team, known as the “Orange” team. Additionally, he will collaborate with former IU guard Keith Smart, who leads the junior and senior “Black” team, with Winegar’s involvement depending on the travel schedule. This multi-tiered coaching structure allows for comprehensive athlete development.
Winegar, a native of Rochester, began his coaching career under notable figures J.R. Holmes at Bloomington South and Criss Beyers at Warren Central. Reflecting on his departure, he stated, “It was a difficult decision, but I take pride in leaving the program in a better place than I found it.” He added, “I love the people in the building, and we had some great players and parents. I love Indiana high school basketball. I really feel like we’re leaving it in a good place with the juniors and seniors we have coming back. They should be one of the best teams in the state again next year.” The Fishers program is expected to retain key players, including senior guards Jason Gardner Jr. and Cooper Zachary, along with Levi Walker, for the upcoming season.
Iowa United Prep, established in the 2023-24 season by Mark and Jenna Scharnberg, boasts a state-of-the-art 73,000-square-foot training facility on the south side of Des Moines. Mark Scharnberg elaborated on their vision in a 2025 Yahoo story, explaining, “The ordinary high school isn’t really designed to develop their basketball players for the next level, like what they’re doing in these academies in Europe. We’re just taking that one step further and saying, you know what? We’re not only a prep school, but we’re an AAU program. We’re a yearlong development program.” Winegar, who previously coached one season at Warren Central before joining Fishers, has aspirations of coaching in a Final Four as a college coach in the future. His Fishers team currently holds an impressive 54-game regular-season winning streak.
Winegar articulated his feelings about the transition: “I felt like we’ve built a great program at Fishers – one of the best high school programs in the country. But outside of Indiana, I don’t know if people know how we do things.” He sees this move as an opportunity to engage in a national schedule and forge new professional connections. He also cited financial considerations, expressing his desire for his wife to remain at home with their three young sons (ages 5, 3, and 2). The most challenging aspect of accepting the new position, he noted, was leaving his current team, which he believed was among the top three in the state.
Winegar further explained that Mark Scharnberg’s ambitious goal of “building the best developmental prep school in the world” resonated deeply with his own philosophy on player development. Initially, Winegar was hesitant, acknowledging the common perception that prep schools might not prioritize development. However, he realized that their shared vision aligned, making the decision sensible. Despite this new venture, he emphasized his enduring admiration for high school basketball coaching in Indiana. He affirmed that he never envisioned leaving Fishers for another high school position, highlighting the unique and rewarding experience of coaching within their sectional environment.