Weber, Flanagan to join basketball Hall of Fame
Two area boys' basketball coaches with nearly 75 years of varsity coaching experience between them will be inducted this weekend into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Middleton.
Waupaca's Ron Weber, who will be back for his 31st season this fall with the Comets, and Mike Flanagan, who recently stepped down after 41 years at Weyauwega-Fremont High School, are two of 11 high school coaches to join the Hall this year.
University of Wisconsin men's coach Bo Ryan is also one of two college coaches to be inducted.
"It really is an honor when you look at the company you hold," Weber said. "I was totally shocked when they called me this spring."
Local coaches already in the Hall include former Iola-Scandinavia girls' coach Judy Morey (inducted in 2000), former New London boys' coach Roy Hintz (2001) and former Clintonville boys' coach Carl Bruggink (1981).
Besides coaching for 30 seasons in Waupaca and three in Adams-Friendship, Weber also spent a season as a varsity assistant at Milwaukee Madison.
"It is a long time," he said. "My type is becoming a dying breed. I think there's something to be said for experience."
"It's very humbling because a lot of people help you," said Flanagan, whose accomplishments include taking the Indians to the Division 3 state championship game in 2001.
His longtime assistant coaches include Mike Rohde, Jeff Gast and Dave Peterson.
"That stability helps," he said. "The younger players come in and know what to expect."
Both men continued to coach after they retiring from their respective teaching jobs.
"The job has chanced over the years, especially if you're a teacher and a coach," Weber said. "You have to be thinking basketball year-round. People don't realize that the basketball season isn't just from November to the end of February."
Weber stepped down as coach after 27 years, but returned three seasons later in 2008 after retiring as a physical education teacher.
"I thought I was done," he said. "I missed it. I was out of coaching and my son (Nolan) was playing in high school. I was still involved in the game, going to Illinois games and going to my brother's Dave's games."
Weber's brother, Bruce, is the men's basketball coach at the University of Illinois, while Dave Weber coaches at Glenbrook North High School in suburban Chicago.
Weber's 1988-89 team went undefeated during the regular season and won its first three state tournament games before falling to Clintonville in a Class B sectional semifinal at the Brown County Arena in Green Bay.
That team included Andy Boario, Tyler Dillingham and Jeff Jenson.
"Those were kids who were willing to learn," Weber said. "I could've rolled the balls out and they would have done well."
Weber grew up in Milwaukee, where he and his brothers fell in love with the sport.
"(Coaching) was something I wanted to do," he said. "I knew I wanted to be a coach and I fell in love with the game of basketball."
Coaches with 20 or 30 or more years of experience are getting harder to find, according to Weber.
"You know they're really good with the kids," he said. "They handle themselves professionally and they're teaching the right things."
Flanagan came to Weyauwega in 1970 after two years in Bangor, where he taught physical science and physical education and also helped coach football and basketball.
Success didn't come right away, he admitted.
"It took awhile," he said. "You come in as a young kid and think you have all the answers. I had a coach in college who said, 'Come back in 20 years and we'll talk coaching.'"
Flanagan's 2000-01 team included Matt Rohde, who went on to play at UW-Green Bay and finished his high school career as one of the state's top 10 scorers of all time.
That team took a 26-0 record into the Division 3 title game, but fell to Glenwood City, 48-45.
"Outside of Rohde, these were just normal high school kids that played at a high level every game," Flanagan said. "Even in practice, their execution was fun to watch. They sure could play."
He recalled how the Weyauwega-Fremont area rallied around the team that made its first trip to state in 66 years.
"That's the fun part of being in a small community," he said. "It gets to be the main focal point."
Other players that Flanagan coached include Bryce Welch, who played college basketball at Winona State, and Matt Resch, now at UW-Stevens Point.
Flanagan also spent 30 years as the W-F freshman football coach and coached the baseball team for two seasons.
"Basketball is year-round, especially if you have upper-level athletes," he said. "It started with Matt Rohde. The Sunday or Monday after the state tournament ended was the first AAU practice. Summer leagues would start the first Tuesday after school was out."
Flanagan's teams won 12 conference championships, including nine in a row at one point, and five regional titles.
"It was not an easy decision (to step down)," he said. "It's been part of my life for so long, but I had to make a decision. You finally come to the point where it's time to move on. I thought I'd retire from coaching first and teach a couple of years, but it didn't work out that way.
"I'm sure I'll see a game or two, but we have grandchildren in middle school," he added. "They're involved in their sports and they'll say, 'Oh, when are you going to come and watch us play?'"
Weber's wife Monica will attend the induction ceremony Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Madison Marriott Hotel in Middleton. Flanagan will bring his wife Nancy, their children Sean and Michelle and their families.
While Flanagan will now have his afternoons and evenings free, Weber is preparing for another season in Waupaca.
"I just enjoy being able to share my passion of basketball with kids," he said. "It's been a great ride and I hope it continues."
Waupaca's Ron Weber, who will be back for his 31st season this fall with the Comets, and Mike Flanagan, who recently stepped down after 41 years at Weyauwega-Fremont High School, are two of 11 high school coaches to join the Hall this year.
University of Wisconsin men's coach Bo Ryan is also one of two college coaches to be inducted.
"It really is an honor when you look at the company you hold," Weber said. "I was totally shocked when they called me this spring."
Local coaches already in the Hall include former Iola-Scandinavia girls' coach Judy Morey (inducted in 2000), former New London boys' coach Roy Hintz (2001) and former Clintonville boys' coach Carl Bruggink (1981).
Besides coaching for 30 seasons in Waupaca and three in Adams-Friendship, Weber also spent a season as a varsity assistant at Milwaukee Madison.
"It is a long time," he said. "My type is becoming a dying breed. I think there's something to be said for experience."
"It's very humbling because a lot of people help you," said Flanagan, whose accomplishments include taking the Indians to the Division 3 state championship game in 2001.
His longtime assistant coaches include Mike Rohde, Jeff Gast and Dave Peterson.
"That stability helps," he said. "The younger players come in and know what to expect."
Both men continued to coach after they retiring from their respective teaching jobs.
"The job has chanced over the years, especially if you're a teacher and a coach," Weber said. "You have to be thinking basketball year-round. People don't realize that the basketball season isn't just from November to the end of February."
Weber stepped down as coach after 27 years, but returned three seasons later in 2008 after retiring as a physical education teacher.
"I thought I was done," he said. "I missed it. I was out of coaching and my son (Nolan) was playing in high school. I was still involved in the game, going to Illinois games and going to my brother's Dave's games."
Weber's brother, Bruce, is the men's basketball coach at the University of Illinois, while Dave Weber coaches at Glenbrook North High School in suburban Chicago.
Weber's 1988-89 team went undefeated during the regular season and won its first three state tournament games before falling to Clintonville in a Class B sectional semifinal at the Brown County Arena in Green Bay.
That team included Andy Boario, Tyler Dillingham and Jeff Jenson.
"Those were kids who were willing to learn," Weber said. "I could've rolled the balls out and they would have done well."
Weber grew up in Milwaukee, where he and his brothers fell in love with the sport.
"(Coaching) was something I wanted to do," he said. "I knew I wanted to be a coach and I fell in love with the game of basketball."
Coaches with 20 or 30 or more years of experience are getting harder to find, according to Weber.
"You know they're really good with the kids," he said. "They handle themselves professionally and they're teaching the right things."
Flanagan came to Weyauwega in 1970 after two years in Bangor, where he taught physical science and physical education and also helped coach football and basketball.
Success didn't come right away, he admitted.
"It took awhile," he said. "You come in as a young kid and think you have all the answers. I had a coach in college who said, 'Come back in 20 years and we'll talk coaching.'"
Flanagan's 2000-01 team included Matt Rohde, who went on to play at UW-Green Bay and finished his high school career as one of the state's top 10 scorers of all time.
That team took a 26-0 record into the Division 3 title game, but fell to Glenwood City, 48-45.
"Outside of Rohde, these were just normal high school kids that played at a high level every game," Flanagan said. "Even in practice, their execution was fun to watch. They sure could play."
He recalled how the Weyauwega-Fremont area rallied around the team that made its first trip to state in 66 years.
"That's the fun part of being in a small community," he said. "It gets to be the main focal point."
Other players that Flanagan coached include Bryce Welch, who played college basketball at Winona State, and Matt Resch, now at UW-Stevens Point.
Flanagan also spent 30 years as the W-F freshman football coach and coached the baseball team for two seasons.
"Basketball is year-round, especially if you have upper-level athletes," he said. "It started with Matt Rohde. The Sunday or Monday after the state tournament ended was the first AAU practice. Summer leagues would start the first Tuesday after school was out."
Flanagan's teams won 12 conference championships, including nine in a row at one point, and five regional titles.
"It was not an easy decision (to step down)," he said. "It's been part of my life for so long, but I had to make a decision. You finally come to the point where it's time to move on. I thought I'd retire from coaching first and teach a couple of years, but it didn't work out that way.
"I'm sure I'll see a game or two, but we have grandchildren in middle school," he added. "They're involved in their sports and they'll say, 'Oh, when are you going to come and watch us play?'"
Weber's wife Monica will attend the induction ceremony Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Madison Marriott Hotel in Middleton. Flanagan will bring his wife Nancy, their children Sean and Michelle and their families.
While Flanagan will now have his afternoons and evenings free, Weber is preparing for another season in Waupaca.
"I just enjoy being able to share my passion of basketball with kids," he said. "It's been a great ride and I hope it continues."
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