Irwin Trying To Restore Roar At Whitko
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY - Rob Irwin remembers the glory days of Whitko High School's boys basketball program.
He remembers, as he said in a phone conversation, when "teams played Whitko they knew they were in a for dogfight for 32 minutes."
Irwin was an assistant coach at Whitko for Bill Patrick and sat on the bench as the Wildcats made their magical run to the Final Four with Indiana All-Star Steve Nicodemus.
Now the head coach at Whitko, Irwin, who was the head coach at Carroll the last 10 years, wants to revive the Wildcat program.
"There was a time when Whitko came in you knew you were going to be in a dogfight for 32 minutes," said Irwin, who posted a 130-88 record at Carroll. "I want to re-establish that. I want teams to know we were there."
Irwin takes over the head coaching duties for Larry Lael, who was the interim coach at Whitko last year and led the Wildcats through a 4-17 season.
"It's going well, but it's going slow," said Irwin. "It's going slow because it's new. We're doing a lot of new things and our numbers aren't that great. We only have nine upper classmen in the whole program. Things are going slow, but I can't say enough about the kids. They're working their tails off, and I'm having a good time."
The Wildcats open the season tonight at home against Whitley County rival Columbia City.
Whitko has opened the season with a loss to Columbia City in the past nine seasons.
To go with the fact that Whitko must get used to a new coach and system - and do so with just three seniors on the roster - the Wildcats are already in trouble with injuries.
"Our numbers are hurting," said Irwin. "And our third-most experienced guy, Trent Rowland, broke his ankle in the last football practice. We hope to have him back by the middle of December."
Irwin also said that freshman Cory Snep was injured in the scrimmage but should be back.
Irwin said Snep would start at point guard. Also expected to start in Whitko's three-guard lineup are seniors Brad Smith and Camron Walter.
Six-foot-6 senior Jeff Coats and 6-3 junior Andrew Warner will start in the post.
Other juniors on the roster include Kaleb Swender, Patrick Carroll, Brian Busz and Randy Wilkinson.
Other sophomores on the varsity roster include Brenden Hart and Malon Kraft.
As if injuries and coaching changes aren't enough for his players to deal with, Irwin said the Wildcats are also battling what people are saying about them.
"People are telling them they're not any good," said Irwin. "We're going to start something new. Not only do I have to be patient, but the players have to be patient and the people watching them have to be patient. We're getting ready for the sectional. I think we should win games. I expect to win."
While at Carroll, Irwin's teams won sectional and regional championships in both 1999 and 2001.
Whitko last won a sectional championship in 2001, the school's only sectional title in the last 10 years, something Irwin intends to change.
After tonight's game against Columbia City, the Wildcats play at Homestead Saturday, at Norwell Dec. 2 and at Central Noble Dec. 6. Whitko's second home game of the season will be Dec. 10 against Wawasee. [[In-content Ad]]
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SOUTH WHITLEY - Rob Irwin remembers the glory days of Whitko High School's boys basketball program.
He remembers, as he said in a phone conversation, when "teams played Whitko they knew they were in a for dogfight for 32 minutes."
Irwin was an assistant coach at Whitko for Bill Patrick and sat on the bench as the Wildcats made their magical run to the Final Four with Indiana All-Star Steve Nicodemus.
Now the head coach at Whitko, Irwin, who was the head coach at Carroll the last 10 years, wants to revive the Wildcat program.
"There was a time when Whitko came in you knew you were going to be in a dogfight for 32 minutes," said Irwin, who posted a 130-88 record at Carroll. "I want to re-establish that. I want teams to know we were there."
Irwin takes over the head coaching duties for Larry Lael, who was the interim coach at Whitko last year and led the Wildcats through a 4-17 season.
"It's going well, but it's going slow," said Irwin. "It's going slow because it's new. We're doing a lot of new things and our numbers aren't that great. We only have nine upper classmen in the whole program. Things are going slow, but I can't say enough about the kids. They're working their tails off, and I'm having a good time."
The Wildcats open the season tonight at home against Whitley County rival Columbia City.
Whitko has opened the season with a loss to Columbia City in the past nine seasons.
To go with the fact that Whitko must get used to a new coach and system - and do so with just three seniors on the roster - the Wildcats are already in trouble with injuries.
"Our numbers are hurting," said Irwin. "And our third-most experienced guy, Trent Rowland, broke his ankle in the last football practice. We hope to have him back by the middle of December."
Irwin also said that freshman Cory Snep was injured in the scrimmage but should be back.
Irwin said Snep would start at point guard. Also expected to start in Whitko's three-guard lineup are seniors Brad Smith and Camron Walter.
Six-foot-6 senior Jeff Coats and 6-3 junior Andrew Warner will start in the post.
Other juniors on the roster include Kaleb Swender, Patrick Carroll, Brian Busz and Randy Wilkinson.
Other sophomores on the varsity roster include Brenden Hart and Malon Kraft.
As if injuries and coaching changes aren't enough for his players to deal with, Irwin said the Wildcats are also battling what people are saying about them.
"People are telling them they're not any good," said Irwin. "We're going to start something new. Not only do I have to be patient, but the players have to be patient and the people watching them have to be patient. We're getting ready for the sectional. I think we should win games. I expect to win."
While at Carroll, Irwin's teams won sectional and regional championships in both 1999 and 2001.
Whitko last won a sectional championship in 2001, the school's only sectional title in the last 10 years, something Irwin intends to change.
After tonight's game against Columbia City, the Wildcats play at Homestead Saturday, at Norwell Dec. 2 and at Central Noble Dec. 6. Whitko's second home game of the season will be Dec. 10 against Wawasee. [[In-content Ad]]