Sidelines: Retired area coaches honored

3/31/2005

Schroeder

Fran Krompak grew up with four older brothers. They played sports. She played sports.

They coached. She coached.

But only one Krompak has been named to four halls of fame for involvement in athletics.

That would be Fran, who recently was inducted into the District 7 basketball hall of fame, becoming the first female to receive such recognition. Krompak is recognized for being the first female coach at Central Catholic, as well as the City League. In 11 years, the Irish girls basketball teams were 140-25 under the coach recognized for opening the door for other women to coach in northwest Ohio.

It was a nice honor and it was nice to be remembered, said Krompak.

Former Archbold coach Bill Arthur and Holgate coach Dick Krauss completed the latest group inducted into the District 7 hall of fame.

Krompak, 64, has already been inducted into Central Catholic s hall of fame, the City League hall of fame and the Birmingham hall of fame. Such accolades have come as a surprise for someone who never considered herself a pioneer.

I received it, but it was for every girl I coached, for every assistant I had and the school I worked for, Krompak said. I m just one person representing a lot of women who were itching to play and wanting to compete. I just happened to be there at the right time.

During Krompak s tenure as the Irish coach from 1969-1980, Central claimed eight City League championships, two sectional titles, two district championships, one regional championship and one state final four tournament appearance.

Krompak recalled when she started her coaching career she was paid $50 a season the girls didn t even have game uniforms, but played with tank-top-like jerseys worn over their gym uniforms.

Archbold s Arthur posted a 226-71 record that included six sectional titles and one district title in 13 years. Krauss was 110-61 in eight years at Holgate, winning three league championships, three sectional crowns, one district title, one regional championship and a state runner-up showing.

Former Macomber High basketball coach Bart Schroeder spends much of his time on the golf course these days.

But Schroeder, who lives in Cleveland, recently spent an evening among many of his peers while being honored at the District 7 banquet. He, along with former Rossford girls coach Dave Matthews, received the retired coach award given annually to one former boys coach and one former girls coach in recognition for noteworthy coaching careers.

It s always just a great honor and privilege to be recognized by your peers, said Schroeder, who coached for 30 years before retiring in 1991. That s something I never take lightly.

The highlight of his coaching tenure took place when his Macomber team, featuring Jimmy Jackson, claimed the 1989 state championship. Macomber ended up ranked fifth in the nation by USA Today, and Schroeder was named the Ohio coach of the year that season.

Two City League titles, five sectional championships, two district crowns and one regional title are on Schroeder s resume.

Bart wanted to reach kids as an educator and the medium he used was basketball, said Bowling Green coach Von Graffin, who was an assistant at Macomber during the state title run.

Matthews recorded 90-plus victories at Rossford. He is now director of operations at the Steve Mix basketball academy.

Neil Black will call the shots for the Monclova Christian varsity basketball team next season.

Black, who served as an assistant coach last season, recently was named Monclova Christian s head coach. He replaces Russ Merrin, who stepped down from the coaching post while remaining focused on his pastoral duties.

Black, an Emmanuel Baptist graduate, coached previously for four years at Calvary Christian in Muskegon, Mich.

Perrysburg s Tyler Winkleman and Bowling Green s Loudan Hammersmith are among the area seniors receiving invitations to play in the Wood County high school all-star game April 8 at Elmwood High. Eastwood s Kevin Leady is expected to lead a group of Suburban Lakes League seniors against the team of seniors representing Wood County schools from other leagues.

Contact Donald Emmons at:demmons@theblade.comor 419-724-6302.