Reminisces – Jim Andrew, ‘71

At this point in our lives, we’ve all had time to reflect on our playing days with Coach. I was so, so fortunate to be a part of a three-year varsity career with him that included three league titles, three trips to the district and state tournaments and a state title in 1969.

Coach’s three-year run that I was part of included a 69-12 record that established a winning approach and personal confidence in myself that has carried through to every part of my life.

His efforts to include me, as the only sophomore on the ‘69 title team, shaped my beliefs of what it means and takes to be a team player. His structure and discipline in practices and games was the foundation that I still draw on as an assistant at the high school today.

He taught us respect – respect for the game, respect for the officials, respect for the opponent, respect for your teammates, and most of all respect for ourselves.

In January 1993, I had the rare opportunity to assist coach at the middle school for one season when he “came out of retirement” to coach the 8th grade team. I believe he was 70 years old at the time. I worked with him for those two months and cherished the opportunity to get to know him as an adult. It was a real treat for the players that year to experience being coached by a true legend.

Away from the basketball court, Coach was always interested in his players’ lives after graduation. My brother and I were constantly involved in some level of car or engine project, and he would be genuinely excited to see either of us when we’d come up to the house and tell him what we’d been up to. These trips usually ended up with a visit to his den where we could talk for hours about just about anything.

During these talks, Coach had so much class. He was eager to converse positively about subjects, but always stopped short when it came to personal criticism of another coach. He stayed above that type of thing. I’ve learned since, he did so out of respect for individual and the situation he was in.