Longtime high school basketball coach Dave Young dies
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan and Stephen Forsha-
SEAMAN — Longtime local basketball coach Dave Young has died.
A longtime North Adams High School boys varsity basketball coach, Coach Young passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 at his residence, after a long illness. He was 57.
Coach Young led the North Adams Green Devils to the Ohio High School State Final Four in 1996, only missing an opportunity to play for the state championship on a controversial, last-second call.
Young spent 27 years as a varsity boys coach, 24 of which were at North Adams High School and coached his final season during the 2010-11 campaign.
"I don't think it's enough to say he was a great coach in southern Ohio; he also was a tremendous person for the North Adams family," said North Adams High School Principal Greg Grooms. "He was very supportive of the kids – on and off the court. It's a great loss."
North Adams coach Rob Meade credits his former coach and mentor as a positive role model in his life.
"I owe a lot to Coach Young for where I'm at today," said Meade, a teacher and coach at North Adams High School. "I will cherish every memory of Coach. He will always be 'Coach' to me."
As a sophomore, Meade was a standout player for Coach Young's first North Adams squad. As a senior, Meade was on the coach's first North Adams team to reach the Convocation Center at Ohio University in Athens.
For the past quarter-century, Meade played for or coached with Dave Young for every year except in 2002-03 (when his second set of twins arrived).
"He was part of my life for a long time," Meade said. "From my sophomore year in high school on...He means an awful lot to me and always will."
Former sportswriter and current Highland County Press publisher Rory Ryan said, "Dave has always been a very accessible coach – win or lose. I remember when Dave was the coach at Whiteoak High School and of course his great North Adams teams.
"His teams always seemed to be making a postseason trip to the Convocation Center. His Final Four team – top to bottom – was the best Southern Hills League team I've ever seen. More importantly, Dave's teams were always clean-cut. They played hard and they played smart, even in the down seasons.
"I'm glad my son was able to enjoy a year in Dave's basketball program and on his high school baseball team at North Adams. There's a strange irony that Coach Young left us at the end of the high school basketball season. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy and their family."
[[In-content Ad]]A longtime North Adams High School boys varsity basketball coach, Coach Young passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 at his residence, after a long illness. He was 57.
Coach Young led the North Adams Green Devils to the Ohio High School State Final Four in 1996, only missing an opportunity to play for the state championship on a controversial, last-second call.
Young spent 27 years as a varsity boys coach, 24 of which were at North Adams High School and coached his final season during the 2010-11 campaign.
"I don't think it's enough to say he was a great coach in southern Ohio; he also was a tremendous person for the North Adams family," said North Adams High School Principal Greg Grooms. "He was very supportive of the kids – on and off the court. It's a great loss."
North Adams coach Rob Meade credits his former coach and mentor as a positive role model in his life.
"I owe a lot to Coach Young for where I'm at today," said Meade, a teacher and coach at North Adams High School. "I will cherish every memory of Coach. He will always be 'Coach' to me."
As a sophomore, Meade was a standout player for Coach Young's first North Adams squad. As a senior, Meade was on the coach's first North Adams team to reach the Convocation Center at Ohio University in Athens.
For the past quarter-century, Meade played for or coached with Dave Young for every year except in 2002-03 (when his second set of twins arrived).
"He was part of my life for a long time," Meade said. "From my sophomore year in high school on...He means an awful lot to me and always will."
Former sportswriter and current Highland County Press publisher Rory Ryan said, "Dave has always been a very accessible coach – win or lose. I remember when Dave was the coach at Whiteoak High School and of course his great North Adams teams.
"His teams always seemed to be making a postseason trip to the Convocation Center. His Final Four team – top to bottom – was the best Southern Hills League team I've ever seen. More importantly, Dave's teams were always clean-cut. They played hard and they played smart, even in the down seasons.
"I'm glad my son was able to enjoy a year in Dave's basketball program and on his high school baseball team at North Adams. There's a strange irony that Coach Young left us at the end of the high school basketball season. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy and their family."
The former head coach finished with a career-mark of 403-189, and said in a June 2011 interview with The Highland County Press, "I had some great kids. They made the program and made me look like an awfully good coach … I had some great kids. Even if the kid wasn't a great player, it was still a great pleasure to coach my players. They knew what was expected of them."
Coach Young didn't start at the JV level with his coaching career; he said he did it the way it was supposed to be by learning how to be a coach at the junior-high level.
Coach Young, a 1972 graduate of West Union, came back to his alma mater after getting his teaching degree at Eastern Kentucky University, where he became the junior high coach. Coach Young left West Union after four seasons and became the junior high coach at East Clinton for one season. Following his stint at East Clinton, Coach Young began his first stint as a varsity coach in Highland County, coaching at Whiteoak for the next two seasons.
During his time at Whiteoak, Coach Young said he had good teams, and they won games but didn't win a sectional title.
"My first varsity game as coach was against Hillsboro, at Hillsboro because they wouldn't travel to the county schools back then. It was little Whiteoak against big bad Hillsboro, and we beat them … actually, we beat them two years in a row."
After Whiteoak, he coached one season at Minford at the varsity level, then he went down a level, coaching JV for two seasons in Waverly. Following Waverly, Coach Young began his legacy at North Adams, which lasted for 24 consecutive seasons.
On Dec. 27, 2010, Coach Young recorded his 400th coaching win, a 72-47 North Adams’ home victory against his alma mater, West Union.
"I considered retiring after the 2009 season, but the 400th win was sitting right there in front of me, so I was selfish and stayed," Coach Young said.
"I wanted to go for it; but like I've said before, out of those 400 wins, I didn't make a shot, grab a rebound or pass the ball for an assist. The kids won 403 games."
In all the years it took to gain the 400-plus wins, Coach Young said he hoped what his players learned from him had nothing to do with basketball.
"I hope my players learned respect and work ethic. I could rattle off all the kids I've coached who have high-profile jobs or are very fine and respected members of the community who have a great work ethic. I've coached many smart and respectful kids, so I just hope they learned respect and work ethic from me, and I think they have.
"If I just have had a little bit to do with that … that means a lot. I think when I have my funeral, a lot of my former players will be there. What more could you ask for?"
One of Coach Young's former players, North Adams junior Sheridan Carroll, will be there for 'Coach."
"You might think that being yelled at isn't a good memory to have," Carroll said. "But for me, it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life."
Drew Dollich, a 2011 graduate of NAHS and former basketball player, agreed.
"When you're around someone for so long, they become a part of you," Dollich said. "When they go away, you don't know who you are without them."
Gary McClellan, longtime sports director for C103 Radio said on the air today, "I have lost a great friend. (The community) has lost a great friend, a great coach and a great person. He took North Adams basketball to a new level."
The Lewis-Sullivan Chapel, Wallace-Thompson Funeral Homes, is serving the family.
Check back to highlandcountypress.com for more information or go to www.thompsonfuneralhomes.com.
Coach Young didn't start at the JV level with his coaching career; he said he did it the way it was supposed to be by learning how to be a coach at the junior-high level.
Coach Young, a 1972 graduate of West Union, came back to his alma mater after getting his teaching degree at Eastern Kentucky University, where he became the junior high coach. Coach Young left West Union after four seasons and became the junior high coach at East Clinton for one season. Following his stint at East Clinton, Coach Young began his first stint as a varsity coach in Highland County, coaching at Whiteoak for the next two seasons.
During his time at Whiteoak, Coach Young said he had good teams, and they won games but didn't win a sectional title.
"My first varsity game as coach was against Hillsboro, at Hillsboro because they wouldn't travel to the county schools back then. It was little Whiteoak against big bad Hillsboro, and we beat them … actually, we beat them two years in a row."
After Whiteoak, he coached one season at Minford at the varsity level, then he went down a level, coaching JV for two seasons in Waverly. Following Waverly, Coach Young began his legacy at North Adams, which lasted for 24 consecutive seasons.
On Dec. 27, 2010, Coach Young recorded his 400th coaching win, a 72-47 North Adams’ home victory against his alma mater, West Union.
"I considered retiring after the 2009 season, but the 400th win was sitting right there in front of me, so I was selfish and stayed," Coach Young said.
"I wanted to go for it; but like I've said before, out of those 400 wins, I didn't make a shot, grab a rebound or pass the ball for an assist. The kids won 403 games."
In all the years it took to gain the 400-plus wins, Coach Young said he hoped what his players learned from him had nothing to do with basketball.
"I hope my players learned respect and work ethic. I could rattle off all the kids I've coached who have high-profile jobs or are very fine and respected members of the community who have a great work ethic. I've coached many smart and respectful kids, so I just hope they learned respect and work ethic from me, and I think they have.
"If I just have had a little bit to do with that … that means a lot. I think when I have my funeral, a lot of my former players will be there. What more could you ask for?"
One of Coach Young's former players, North Adams junior Sheridan Carroll, will be there for 'Coach."
"You might think that being yelled at isn't a good memory to have," Carroll said. "But for me, it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life."
Drew Dollich, a 2011 graduate of NAHS and former basketball player, agreed.
"When you're around someone for so long, they become a part of you," Dollich said. "When they go away, you don't know who you are without them."
Gary McClellan, longtime sports director for C103 Radio said on the air today, "I have lost a great friend. (The community) has lost a great friend, a great coach and a great person. He took North Adams basketball to a new level."
The Lewis-Sullivan Chapel, Wallace-Thompson Funeral Homes, is serving the family.
Check back to highlandcountypress.com for more information or go to www.thompsonfuneralhomes.com.