CLOVERDALE —
Jack Butcher, Howard Sharpe and Bill Stearman.
All Indiana legends, those are the only names above Pat Rady on the state’s career victory list for boys high school basketball coaches, although Rady tries to avoid talking about passing them.
Beginning his 48th season as a head coach and eighth season at Cloverdale, the 70-year-old Rady prefers focusing on the present and future more than numbers he accumulated in the past at Bainbridge, Winchester, Southmont, Shelbyville, Terre Haute South and Cloverdale.
With 711 wins under his belt after the Clovers finished 11-11 last season, Rady needs three to tie and four to pass Stearman (714) for No. 3 on the list and 13 to tie and 14 to pass Sharpe (724) for No. 2. Butcher, who retired at Loogootee in 2002, sits on top at 806.
Getting ready to run practice Wednesday afternoon, Rady understood why I brought up the possibility of him climbing the ladder. But most of his comments concerned his current team, which includes seniors Mitch Williams, Joe Fidler and Chuck Strunk along with one junior and at least three promising sophomores.
The Clovers’ first game will be Tuesday at North Central.
“I’m excited about the team we’ve got this year,” Rady emphasized. “I always take pleasure in watching a player improve and watching a group come together as a team.
“Before the year’s over, I think we’ll be competitive, but we may have some tough times early on … We are going to be fun to watch.”
“Fun” is the key word here and that’s what keeps Rady going after all these years.
“I love the game and I always have,” he explained. “This [coaching] is still as much fun as when I first started.”
Although Rady doesn’t want to look beyond this season, he figures he’ll take it “year by year” when making decisions about whether to continue coaching or retire. Regardless of what he chooses, he knows he’ll have the support of his wife Margaret and sons Patrick and Michael, whom he appreciates for all the personal sacrifices they’ve made during his career.
Patrick Rady, who worked as a part-time sportswriter here at the Tribune-Star in the 1980s, is again serving as a varsity assistant to his father at Cloverdale this season. Another familiar name, former Indiana State player Greg Thomas, is the Clovers’ junior varsity coach.
Pat Rady, who still substitute teaches at the high school and middle school in Cloverdale when needed, doesn’t avoid the past so much that he discourages contact from his former players and former coaches. On the contrary, he enjoys reminiscing about his times at all of the above-mentioned high schools.
That includes South, where he left in 2004, enabling longtime assistant Mike Saylor to become head coach. Saylor stepped down after the 2010-11 season and Rady understands why Saylor would want to do that in his early 50s.
“It’s become so demanding,” Rady said of coaching at the high school level. “It’s such a year-round thing and it’s so hard to spend time with your family.”
Still a Terre Haute resident, Rady insists that he frequently checks the Tribune-Star for South scores on the days after its games.
Yes, he specifically mentioned the Tribune-Star. I knew there was a reason I always liked him (insert “wink” symbol here).
• Better late than never — This was announced by the IHSAA earlier this month, but it’s still worth reporting: Mike Stoffers of Terre Haute was recipient of the 2011 Interscholastic Athletic Officials Association Award for excellence in the sport of volleyball.
According to its website, the IHSAA — in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association — recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports each year.
During his career, Stoffers has worked 13 sectionals, 10 regionals, three semistates and two state finals.
Stoffers was selected for this honor by a committee representing the officials associations, according to the IHSAA announcement. In Indiana, there are 24 associations made up of men and women who assist in providing activities for the student-athletes in our state. There are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.
A licensed referee for 16 years, Stoffers is a member of the Wabash Valley Officials Association, He also is a licensed football, track and basketball official.
Stoffers is a 1977 graduate of Terre Haute South High School (hey, so was I) and a 1979 graduate of Vincennes University, where he earned a degree in horticulture.
Good job, Mike.
David Hughes can be reached after 4 p.m. by phone at 1-800-783-8742, Option 4, or at (812) 231-4224; by e-mail at david.hughes@tribstar.com; or by fax at (812) 231-4321.
High School
HUGHES NEWS AND VIEWS: Former South coach Rady makes it look easy
- High School
-
-
West Vigo baseball falls in sectional to Owen Valley
West Vigo overcame the odds to win 20 high school baseball games this season with a lineup that often included four freshmen and few seniors.
-
South Vermillion softball's late-season surge comes to end
A late-season surge by South Vermillion wasn’t quite enough to halt a high school softball sectional winning streak by the host team Thursday night, as Edgewood got on top early and held on for a 5-2 win in the championship game of the Class 3A Edgewood Sectional.
The loss was just the second in the last 12 games for the Wildcats. The Mustangs, however, haven’t lost a sectional softball game for eight years in a row. -
South takes second, North third at boys track regional
Terre Haute South finished second and Terre Haute North third on Thursday night at the boys track and field regional at Evansville Central, with 11 individuals and three relay teams qualifying for the state finals June 2.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: White River Valley baseball holds off Eminence
Three Eminence errors in the top of the sixth inning finally enabled White River Valley to score in high school baseball Thursday night, and the Wolverines went on to a 5-0 win in Class A Shakamak Sectional action.
-
Feeling cursed: South bitten in sectional final again
Terre Haute South softball is not even close to being as cursed as a certain northside baseball team in Chicago, but it might just seem like it.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Mundy, Porter, Knight individual regional winners
Chanli Mundy and Keirra Porter of Terre Haute North were among the individual winners in the IHSAA Evansville Central girls track and field regional that ended late Tuesday night.
-
Thornton puts away South Vermillion
Cody Thornton’s three-run blast over the left-field fence was the finishing touch to West Vigo’s 10-3 victory over South Vermillion in the opening game of the Class 3A Greencastle Sectional on Wednesday.
-
Lakers triumph, go home for regional
Shakamak took Class A Clay City Sectional honors in high school softball for the first time since 2009 Wednesday, defeating White River Valley 9-5 in the title tilt.
-
North Vermillion avenges losses
North Vermillion avenged two high school softball losses during the regular season to win the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional championship Wednesday with a 3-2 triumph over the host Panthers.
-
Pats, Knights will meet in sectional
Adler Ingalsbe pooh-poohed his lack of velocity Wednesday night, yet the Terre Haute North pitcher was throwing BBs in the first game compared to Mooresville’s Brandon Topie in the nightcap.
-
South outbattles Northview to reach sectional final
Even the best of high school softball pitchers can’t keep all the batters in the middle of Terre Haute South’s lineup down.
-
Panthers get 20th win in sectional
Riverton Parke will face North Vermillion in the Class A softball sectional championship at Riverton Parke today, with action commencing at 6 p.m.
-
Plainfield Sectional all about parity
Considering Terre Haute South has won five consecutive Class 4A sectional titles in high school baseball, naming the Braves as favorites to capture the 2012 Class 4A Plainfield Sectional would not seem far-fetched.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: North Vermillion in title game
Casey West had a triple and three runs scored to help North Vermillion softball advance to the championship game of the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional on Tuesday.
-
North takes second in track regional
Terre Haute North finished second with 74 points, six behind team champion Evansville Reitz, during the Evansville Central girls track and field regional that ended late Tuesday night.
-
Wildcats advance to sectional softball final; West Vigo falls
Patience, patience.
South Vermillion exhibited great patience, being very selective at the plate and it paid off royally in the fourth inning. -
South, Crawfordsville win in regional tennis semis
Terre Haute South outlasted Fountain Central 4-1 in the first round of the girls high school tennis regional Tuesday, advancing the Braves into today’s championship match against Crawfordsville.
-
Braves, Knights open with wins
It was an excellent night for starting softball pitchers to help their own cause Monday night in the Class 4A Northview Sectional.
-
Lough dreamt about McMillan
A two-time state finalist in wrestling and a two-time all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference football player and wrestler, Tsali Lough of Terre Haute South was named the male recipient of the 2012 McMillan Award on Monday night at South’s Senior Awards Night.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Panthers cruise in sectional opener
Sarah Burnham pitched a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in high school softball Monday evening as host Riverton Parke defeated defending champion Rockville 10-0 in opening-round action at the Class A Riverton Parke Sectional.
-
Notable tradition bodes well for Riverton Parke
Located practically in the shadow of a high school that sets one state standard in track and field, Riverton Parke has a tendency to be overlooked in that sport.
-
Vikings get 18th win over Shakamak
West Vigo began a busy week of high school baseball Monday on a winning note, defeating Shakamak 6-3.
-
Greencastle new site for girls tennis regional
The starting times might prove to be a bone of contention, but otherwise coaches Bill Blankenbaker and Emily Goff are thrilled their respective girls high school tennis teams will begin play today at the Greencastle Regional.
-
Northview sectional groups 3 20-win teams
Three teams with 20-plus victories will attempt to claim the Class 4A Northview Sectional crown for high school softball this week, and most of the other Wabash Valley sectional fields also appear to be wide open.
-
Terre Haute South softball takes Riverton Parke tournament
Terre Haute South is going into the Class 4A Sectional at Northview on Monday with momentum, confidence, a deep bench and a healthier pitching staff than it has had in quite a while.
-
North baseball splits doubleheader with Indy North Central
Some of their incentive could have been sapped a couple of nights earlier, when Center Grove achieved an eight-inning victory over Warren Central to clinch the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball championship.
-
Robinson takes regional softball crown
Robinson’s Maroons came from behind in the last two innings Saturday to defeat top-seeded Newton 3-2 and win the Illinois Class 2A Lawrenceville Regional.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Terre Haute South baseball sweeps, takes second place in MIC
Terre Haute South rallied for a tie in the bottom of the seventh and won the game in the bottom of the eighth in Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball Saturday, coming behind for a 3-2 win over host Lawrence North.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Baseball, sectional game times announced
Pairings and schedules are set for the Indiana High School Athletic Association tournament.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Game times set for baseball sectionals
Pairings and schedules are set for the Indiana High School Athletic Association tournament.
- More High School Headlines
-
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Police: Gunman Has Hostages in Realty Office
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Dragon Arrives at Space Station in Historic 1st
Beer Here!: An Historic Exhibit
Raw Video: SpaceX Capsule's Docking Delayed
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
Passenger Restrained on Flight to Miami Arrested
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Sudden Storm Topples Wisconsin Trees
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Raw Video: Wildfire Burns 110 Square Miles
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Kristen Stewart Is Red Hot
Shark Attacks Australian Fishing Boat
Bradley out for playoffs
Kayaker Survives Trip Over Washington Waterfall
Alison Brie Likes To Jog Naked
Heidi Klum Goes Sheer
Alton's Best Burger Ever
Ellie Kemper's Stripper Surprise on 'Ellen'
Maddie the Balancing Dog On Cross-Country Trip
Crawford's Sexy Leather Look
Boys eyes 'removed with spoon'
"Twilight" Stars Caught Kissing
Etan Patz Case: Suspect Arrested
Britney's Hot Pink Mini-Dress
Wrongfully accused rapist exonerated after 5 years in jail
Actress to Play Casey Anthony
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
Prince William on The Queen: 'Woman in Man's World'
