HOLMES TOWNSHIP — In 1982 Ronald Reagan was President, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” first aired in movie theaters and you could buy a new car for about $7,000.
That’s also the year Mark “Buzz” Kocher began coaching girls basketball in the Wynford Local School District.
Kocher captured his 500th career win in the junior varsity contest with Bucyrus Wednesday night. He was honored that evening and also recognized with a plaque after Friday night’s varsity game against Bucyrus.
“It was a very special time. You spend 41 years, you get to know a lot of people and the kids in the last 15 years I keep in touch with them. I enjoy it. They’re pleasant to be around, most of the time,” Kocher said with a laugh.
Sharing memories
He has been in the Wynford girls’ basketball program for more than four decades coaching junior high, junior varsity and assisting head coach Amy Taylor-Sheldon with the varsity.
“It was a special moment. Kids came back to share it with me and some kids I haven’t seen for a while, so I got to get re-acquainted and find out what they’re doing,” Kocher said.
“I went home that night and had a hard time getting to sleep because of being excited and trying to remember everything.”
Kocher graduated in 1980, playing as a senior for legendary Wynford coach Rob Sheldon.
“Two years later Larry Miller, the girls head coach, called me up and said, ‘Hey, do you want to coach junior high girls?’ I never even thought about it, but I’m a farmer and the winters are more free for me, so I said I’ll give it a try. Forty-one years later I’m still at it.”
The stability within the girls basketball program at Wynford is unique.
“Other than Larry Miller, there’s only been three other (head) coaches. Dick Gervais and then Kathy Hill came for three years, and Amy’s been here all these years. As far as stability wise, the kids know you and what to expect and they know your system,” he said.
“It’s an easier transition to make. Some schools may change (coaches) every two years. The kids get lost and confused and it’s hard to get a program going and keep it going. Michael (Hurles) has been with us 20 years. We all get along well. You don’t see that, even at smaller schools.”
Taylor-Sheldon has been at the Lady Royals’ helm for 27 years.
Ideal arrangement
When he’s not in the fields, Kocher is in the gym coaching kids. He also says he didn’t have head coaching aspirations.
“Farming allows me to have the free time in the winter months and yes, the responsibility that goes with it. But it’s nothing like being the head coach. I’m busy some in the summer months and Amy is very accommodating. She understands that farming is my first thing,” Kocher said.
“I love being around the kids. We have serious times, and we have a lot of fun times, too. That’s the memories you make there.”
Last season Kocher worked with the junior high, as there was no jayvee team at the high school.
“I coached these freshmen girls as my eighth grade, and we went undefeated and won our tournament. These freshmen as eighth graders, they were more advanced. They could do a lot of things and I could do more to prepare them for the high school level,” he said.
“It’s still a big jump for them. I think the transition is a bit better for them.”
Two of his JV teams finished the season with perfect records.
Changing game
Kocher said two aspects — the physicality and the pace of the game — are more challenging at the high school level. But two of those ninth graders are varsity starters.
“Caroline (Sheldon) has the knowledge she’s gotten over the years and Brooke (Frombaugh) plays two other sports. Her body has matured a little bit quicker so she can handle this more, and she’s played up higher than her grade level so she can handle the pressure of going up against older kids,” he said.
The girls game has evolved, according to Kocher, who coached junior high his first 7-8 years.
“When I started if you had a post person and a guard you were good to go. I won games like that. Now you need five players — athletes really — because the physicality of it has changed so much,” Kocher said.
“The quickness of the game has advanced, and the knowledge of girls is better because you’re starting with them way back in elementary. Years ago, they didn’t play until the seventh grade. ”
Kocher observed that women’s basketball’s growth has continued into the collegiate level as well over the past four decades.
“In the past couple years fans have showed up and they’re more competitive and they’re fun to watch. The only thing you don’t see is the dunking. Other than that, they’re doing the same thing the guys are doing. They’re selling out at colleges. It’s unheard of,” Kocher said.
When asked how much longer he wanted to coach, Kocher had a quick reply.
“When I get asked that, I tell people as long as Amy’s around and she wants me to stick around, I’ll stick around. Who knows how long that’s going to be? Year-to-year you just never know, but as long as my body holds up, we’ll see what goes. I’m enjoying it while I can.”
‘Face on the Lady Royals’
Taylor-Sheldon said when she came into the program, Kocher was quick to welcome her aboard.
“Buzz has been pretty much the go-to for the Lady Royals all the way back to the mid-80s. If you had to put a face on the Lady Royals over the last four decades, it’d be Buzz’s face, even though we’ve had different head coaches.”
Taylor-Sheldon said her first few years in the program were difficult ones.
“Buzz was the one who I went to when I came into the community as an outsider. I didn’t have a lot of friends. It’s hard because you’re not going to be friends with your kids or with the parents,” she said.
“You’re relatively new and Buzz was just the steady person I had in my life here while in my 20s. Just to be supportive, he and Karen meant a lot,” she said.
In 2003 the team made an appearance in the state Final Four.
‘Great relationships’
She said Kocher always puts the players first.
“It’s that mutual joy of coaching girls and supporting kids, get over obstacles and meet their goals. It brings him a lot of joy being a part of the program and having those relationships with players.”
About 35 former players showed up Wednesday night to share the milestone with Kocher. They signed a banner commemorating the achievement and shared stories.
“Longevity you know with coaches, there’s such a high turnover. That’s why I appreciate coaches like Brian (Seybert) and people who come back like Phil Loy to be there for the girls. There’s a lot of kids out there wanting to compete. You don’t see people doing it over time, let alone for decades,” Taylor-Sheldon said.
“We’ve seen a lot of kids grow and mature and find success. But it has to be about the big picture. It can’t just be about wins and losses. Having great relationships with kids — like Buzz has — 500 wins is a byproduct of that. It has to be about relationships and fundamentals, and doing the best you can to have kids be a part of something bigger.”