Longtime coach charged with third intoxicated driving offense

Rachel Greco and Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal
·2 min read
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GRAND LEDGE — Travis Schellhammer, head coach of Grand Ledge High School's varsity boys basketball team for the past four seasons, was charged Monday with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, his third offense, according to the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office.

The now-former coach, 40, of Grand Ledge, was also charged with failure to stop at the scene of a property damage accident.

Grand Ledge coach Travis Schellhammer gives instructions against East Lansing, Friday, March 11, 2022, at DeWitt High School. East Lansing won 57-44.
Grand Ledge coach Travis Schellhammer gives instructions against East Lansing, Friday, March 11, 2022, at DeWitt High School. East Lansing won 57-44.

The charges stem from an incident on Sunday on North Bridge Street in Grand Ledge during which Schellhammer hit another vehicle while driving, officials said.

Schellhammer was previously charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated twice before — in October 2002 in Clinton County and in August 2004 in Eaton County — the prosecutor's office said.

Schellhammer declined to comment. His attorney, Pat O'Keefe Jr., issued a statement.

"Because he's been charged criminally, I'm not permitted to comment about the case because of our Michigan rules of professional conduct."

Schellhammer has spent nearly two decades as a high school coach, including the last 15 at Grand Ledge. He was a varsity assistant prior to taking over as the varsity head coach in the 2019-20 season.

Schellhammer was previously suspended for two weeks during the 2020-21 season by the school for an undisclosed disciplinary issue.

"Coach Schellhammer is no longer the basketball coach at Grand Ledge Public Schools," Grand Ledge Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes said in a statement. "Freshman head coach Luke Charter has been named the interim varsity head coach for the remainder of the season."

Charter coached Grand Ledge in its season-opening 69-49 home victory over Caledonia on Tuesday and is now listed on the Michigan High School Athletic Association's website as the program's coach.

Schellhammer could face a $500 to $5,000 fine and one to five years in jail, or probation with 30 days to one year in jail if convicted on the charges, the the prosecutor's office said.

A preliminary exam is scheduled for Dec. 22 in front of Eaton County District Court Judge Kelly Morton.

Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ . Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Grand Ledge coach charged with third intoxicated driving offense