HHS basketball coaches' fraternity

In the very early days, high school football and basketball teams were accompanied to the games by members of the faculty, who were more “supervisors” than coaches, since, more often than not, they had little knowledge or understanding of the finer points of the game.

Usually, they had never actually played the game as a member of a team.

Later on, some of the area schools began to employ people like “Red” Armstrong, of McClain and Roy “Dugan” Miller, of Hillsboro. These people had played the game in high school and in college. They had an understanding of the fundamentals of the game and of sound football and basketball strategy. They were able to not only supervise the boys, but to actually teach them how to play the game effectively.

After Coach Miller left Hillsboro, he coached football in another high school or two, then coached in a small college. Eventually, he was one of the coaches of the professional Detroit Lions. Coach Red Armstrong became head football coach at Wittenberg College following his 13-year stint at McClain.

So, beginning in the early to mid-1930s, high schools were getting some rather well-trained and knowledgeable coaches. Being a successful coach, however, involves more than just a good understanding of the game.

A coach is a teacher. Some are better teachers than others. The coach needs to be able to relate to youngsters and to command respect. He needs to be able to make sound decisions under pressure. And, he needs the local experts to leave him alone and let him coach the team without interference from would-be coaches in the grandstands, many of whom would have difficulty finding their automobile in the parking lot after the game.

Delmar “Bus” Anderson is an early coach who was well liked in Hillsboro. He was here six years before departing. Judge Richard L. Davis played for Anderson, when he was a high school student. He has nothing but positive comments about the coach.

The list of the 31 basketball coaches who have called Hillsboro High School home (if, ever so briefly) follows. (I will have more comments on the subject at a later date.)

Robert B. Jameson, 1927-29; Roy “Dugan” Miller, 1929-34; Earl Wright, 1935-36; Delmar “Bus” Anderson, 1936-42; Dow L. Nelson, 1942-42; Donovan Lanning, 1942-43; John E. Born, 1943-46; Warren Immel, 1946-47; Paul Watson, 1947-49; George R. Steele, 1949-50; Donald Miller, 1950-53; Ray Oliver, 1953-58; Tom Bryant, 1958-62; Jim Saunders, 1962-65; Harry J. Hall, 1965-66; Vernon Hooper, 1966-69; David Larimer, 1969-71; Bob Ream, 1971-75; Bill Hogan, 1975-77; Bill Newland, 1977-79; Sam Snyder, 1979-82; Gary West, 1982-86; George Barnes, 1986-87; Joe B. Stewart, 1987-90; Rick Earley, 1990-92; Thom Snyder, 1992-95; Pat Stevens, 1995-96; J.R. Moberly, 1996-2003; Joe B. Stewart, 2003-07; Tim Davis, 2007-11; and Brett Prince, 2011-present.

“Bus” Anderson resigned in July 1942 to become head football and basketball coach at Youngstown South High School. Youngstown South had about 1,000 boys enrolled.

The likable Anderson had graduated from Muskingum College in 1934. In college, he played both football and basketball and was the leading scorer in basketball, his senior year. He had coached at Adamsville (in Muskingum County) for three years before coming to Hillsboro in 1937. Both he and his wife were very popular in Hillsboro, and his teams were very competitive while he was here.

When Anderson left in 1942, the board of education employed Dow L. Nelson to replace him. Nelson had graduated from Ohio University, and had been an assistant coach at Cuyahoga Falls High School for five years. He was employed as head football and basketball coach at Hillsboro in late July. He came here in August, looked over the facilities and began to plan for the upcoming football season.

Nelson started football practice in September, but became ill (perhaps, after taking a good look at his prospects). He was admitted to the Athens County Hospital at Athens. Eventually, he submitted his resignation and returned to Cuyahoga Falls.

The board of education (in a serious bind) convinced local businessman Amos Smith to take over the football team for the season, and math teacher Donovan Lanning took over the basketball team.

Tom Stanforth, Ralph Kelch, Dan Reed, Jim Morrow, Leland Creed, Gerald Bumgarner, Paul Little, Gerald Davis and Dick Shaffer all played football for Nelson and Smith.

This will explain why, in the list of HHS basketball coaches, Dow Nelson’s term of employment is only four months. Perhaps I should not have even mentioned him, since he resigned before the first game. But he was employed as a coach, so I put him in.

Amos Smith, the father of Bob, David and Kenny Smith, all of whom played on the Hillsboro athletic teams, had been football coach at Wilmington High School for several years. He married the daughter of Charles Langley, of Hillsboro. Langley had a productive insurance business, here. Later, Smith resigned his coaching job at Wilmington, moved to Hillsboro, and joined his father-in-law in business.

The firm was renamed The Langley-Smith Insurance Agency.

Smith only coached the Hillsboro football team one year. He was replaced by John E. Born in 1943. Donovan Lanning coached the basketball team only one year.

John Born had just graduated from Ohio University a few months earlier. He was the star of the Ohio University basketball team. He coached here from 1943 to 1946 when he moved on, and was replaced by Warren Immel.

Immel, a graduate of Marietta High School, had started college at the University of Illinois, but transferred to Marietta College, then to Ohio University, where he graduated in 1941. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was discharged in 1945. He took over as coach at Granville High School. The next year, he came to Hillsboro.

Immel brought Robert Johnson here as assistant coach. Johnson had graduated from Waverly High School and Ohio University. People who were in high school at Hillsboro around 1946 will never forget Immel and Johnson. In gym class, they played a game called “Victory Basketball.” If you came out of that without a broken arm, a black eye or a bloody nose, you were quite fortunate (or, you were hiding in a corner of the gym).

Both Immel and Johnson submitted their resignations in March of 1947.

Paul Watson was employed as basketball and football coach, over the summer. He produced two very outstanding basketball teams during his two years in Hillsboro. The 1947-48 team featured Bill Jenike, John Rhude, J.L. Davis, Bill “Shorty” Long and Owen Lyle, along with Lon Boatman, Phil Roush and Kenny Osman.

They played a murderous schedule, which included Lebanon, Columbus Central, Cincinnati Western Hills and two games with Dayton Stivers, among others. They finished with a record of 19 wins and 4 losses, which included tournament play.

After winning the SCOL title, their first outright league championship since 1937-38, they were defeated by Portsmouth, by four points in the district finals. Their 56-35 victory over the McClain Tigers, that season, marked the first Indians win over the McClain Tigers in 10 years. John Rhude, Owen Lyle and Bill Long graduated in May.

In 1948-49 they came back with Kenny Osman replacing Rhude, and Dave Davis and Phil Roush playing guard (Lon Boatman saw considerable playing time, too).

Playing the same extremely rugged schedule, this team came on strong and posted a record that was nearly as good as that of the 1948-49 team.

Bob Patton is a columnist for The Highland County Press.