Warsaw Top Program In '90s
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw boys basketball distinction as the top program of the 1990s probably can be traced back to one single day, but it isn't even in this decade.
No this day goes back six years before the '90s even started when the Tigers captured their first and only boys state championship title - March 24, 1984.
Warsaw's 59-56 win over Vincennes Lincoln that day might have done more than give Warsaw the state title; it set in motion the enthusiasm and interest in a sport that has put the school and community on the map.
"The seed of something like that would start with the state championship of 1984," current Warsaw JV coach Doug Ogle said. "That had to be very motivating for the kids in elementary and junior high grades. That success kept breathing more success."
The seed planted that day has grown into what can now be considered the best boys program of the '90s in terms of winning percentage among its high school (varsity, junior varsity and freshman) programs.
The Warsaw coaching staff has guided those teams to a combined record of 523-91 since the 1989-90 season, which outpaces Bedford-North Lawrence's 499-90.
"I hope it shows that night in and night out we are as tough a team to beat as anybody in the state of Indiana," Warsaw head coach Al Rhodes, the architect of the program, said. "We work very hard in our program."
It is the interest from the state championship and the winning that followed that has also turned Warsaw into a hotbed of hoops.
"It gave them (younger players) role models they wanted to be like, and it also gave them a belief level," long-time varsity assistant Hal Gunter said. "They knew they could get to the state championship round if they did the necessary things."
"To some degree, Warsaw is in a pocket that time has forgotten in terms of waning interest in high school basketball," Ogle said. "Our community still cares very deeply about how the team does. Whereas some places that used to be hotbeds, the enthusiasm is not there anymore."
Ogle himself has a lot to do with Warsaw's gaudy mark over the past six seasons. As the junior varsity coach, Ogle guided the Tigers to a 68-game winning streak over parts of four seasons earlier this decade.
"You can learn things when you win, and if you get in a habit of winning, that really makes a difference," Ogle said. "There have been numerous occasions on the JV level where our guys expect to win. It is like what Penn has done in its state (football) championship teams. They have been outmanned, but they just believe they can win."
Pointing to the single reason behind the success of the program would be difficult. But obviously getting a good feeder program is a big key. From the start of their basketball careers, Tiger basketball players know what is expected of them, and it becomes almost second nature.
"I think our record extends down to the work our elementary and junior coaches do," Rhodes said. "Those players are accelerated. It is very similar to college prep or honors classes we have."
"It is important that you provide an experience and an educational opportunity that people want to take part in," Gunter said. "One of the things true of any of the successful basketball programs in the state of Indiana is that they have a feeder program that teaches youngsters how to play the correct way. In the end, one of the things you look for is the programs that actually create products of the program. By the time kids get to be juniors and seniors, they know how to play."
Warsaw's varsity program alone has a record in the '90s of 171-33. That is an average of 21 wins a season against only four losses. The worst record in that time period was an 18-10 mark in 1992-93, and Warsaw still managed to reach the semistate that season. Warsaw has reached two Final Fours in that time, 1992 and 1996.
"It is something that everybody involved with Tiger basketball can be proud of," Rhodes said. "It is something our school and community can be proud of. Taking a look at that long of a time span, and to have a program at No. 1 tells people we are doing a good job."
The winning percentage is somewhat bittersweet to the Tigers, who have yet to claim a state championship in the decade despite the talented teams that have come their way.
"I don't feel that bad because the journey is almost as good as the destination," Rhodes said. "Because we haven't gotten that second state championship, we still have plenty to work for.
"It has never been our goal to win as many games as we can; our goal is always to chase the state championship," he said. "The record we have put together has been a byproduct of our goal."
The only varsity program to have a better winning percentage in the first six seasons of the decade has been New Albany with a 171-33 record, one victory more than Warsaw's. One man has had a hand in helping build both programs - Jim Miller.
He was the coach before Rhodes at Warsaw, and he was the coach for much of New Albany's '90s success before turning the reins over to Don Unruh three years ago.
"You have to have a dedicated coaching staff and dedicated kids that are committed to excellence, that is the secret," Miller said. "That is getting more and more difficult, but if that is what you demand, you can be successful."
Miller is a guidance counselor at New Albany, but still fills part of his time helping this year's Warsaw program with tips and suggestions after looking at game film.
When Miller arrived in Warsaw 20 years ago, he brought along one of his former players to be his assistant. In 1980, that assistant, Rhodes, was selected to be his successor when he decided to head to Huntington.
Miller said the work he started and Rhodes has taken from there was not easy judging by what was there when he came to Warsaw.
"Probably basketball didn't look like it was anything that they were interested in," he said. "I think the people were more concerned with summer at the lakes and things like that. I don't know how much it had been pushed (before). To be successful, you have to dedicate yourself to a program, and that is what we did."
Rhodes said that contrary to popular belief, he and Miller did not start with the feeder program (the mainstay of the Warsaw program now) right away.
"We actually have built the program from the top down," Rhodes said. "When we first came (Miller and Rhodes), we worried about the varsity and JV programs and not much else. As we have established credibility, we have worked our way down."
A lot of credit for getting things going for Warsaw has to go to Rhodes and his coaching staff, which has been together for a while. Gunter has been with Rhodes every step of the way, and Ogle has been there for the entire '90's run. Add those two to a list of coaches along the way that includes Tony Sumpter, Dan Wray, Tracy Furnivall and John Snyder.
"Coach Rhodes is the main reason (for the success)," Ogle said. "He is the driving force behind this. He is very hard-working, and you combine that with being a smart man, you have a very good coach."
And just think, Rhodes wasn't even the No. 1 choice to succeed Miller.
"Some people had another coach or two in mind," Miller said. "I really pushed hard that you don't change a winning program by getting new people. It has come out that he is a successful coach. I think he is the best coach in Indiana, there is no question."
Rhodes has a career record of 319-106 (75 percent) in 18 seasons at Warsaw. He has won 13 sectionals, 6 regionals, 4 semistates, 9 Northern Lakes Conference titles and one state title. [[In-content Ad]]
Warsaw boys basketball distinction as the top program of the 1990s probably can be traced back to one single day, but it isn't even in this decade.
No this day goes back six years before the '90s even started when the Tigers captured their first and only boys state championship title - March 24, 1984.
Warsaw's 59-56 win over Vincennes Lincoln that day might have done more than give Warsaw the state title; it set in motion the enthusiasm and interest in a sport that has put the school and community on the map.
"The seed of something like that would start with the state championship of 1984," current Warsaw JV coach Doug Ogle said. "That had to be very motivating for the kids in elementary and junior high grades. That success kept breathing more success."
The seed planted that day has grown into what can now be considered the best boys program of the '90s in terms of winning percentage among its high school (varsity, junior varsity and freshman) programs.
The Warsaw coaching staff has guided those teams to a combined record of 523-91 since the 1989-90 season, which outpaces Bedford-North Lawrence's 499-90.
"I hope it shows that night in and night out we are as tough a team to beat as anybody in the state of Indiana," Warsaw head coach Al Rhodes, the architect of the program, said. "We work very hard in our program."
It is the interest from the state championship and the winning that followed that has also turned Warsaw into a hotbed of hoops.
"It gave them (younger players) role models they wanted to be like, and it also gave them a belief level," long-time varsity assistant Hal Gunter said. "They knew they could get to the state championship round if they did the necessary things."
"To some degree, Warsaw is in a pocket that time has forgotten in terms of waning interest in high school basketball," Ogle said. "Our community still cares very deeply about how the team does. Whereas some places that used to be hotbeds, the enthusiasm is not there anymore."
Ogle himself has a lot to do with Warsaw's gaudy mark over the past six seasons. As the junior varsity coach, Ogle guided the Tigers to a 68-game winning streak over parts of four seasons earlier this decade.
"You can learn things when you win, and if you get in a habit of winning, that really makes a difference," Ogle said. "There have been numerous occasions on the JV level where our guys expect to win. It is like what Penn has done in its state (football) championship teams. They have been outmanned, but they just believe they can win."
Pointing to the single reason behind the success of the program would be difficult. But obviously getting a good feeder program is a big key. From the start of their basketball careers, Tiger basketball players know what is expected of them, and it becomes almost second nature.
"I think our record extends down to the work our elementary and junior coaches do," Rhodes said. "Those players are accelerated. It is very similar to college prep or honors classes we have."
"It is important that you provide an experience and an educational opportunity that people want to take part in," Gunter said. "One of the things true of any of the successful basketball programs in the state of Indiana is that they have a feeder program that teaches youngsters how to play the correct way. In the end, one of the things you look for is the programs that actually create products of the program. By the time kids get to be juniors and seniors, they know how to play."
Warsaw's varsity program alone has a record in the '90s of 171-33. That is an average of 21 wins a season against only four losses. The worst record in that time period was an 18-10 mark in 1992-93, and Warsaw still managed to reach the semistate that season. Warsaw has reached two Final Fours in that time, 1992 and 1996.
"It is something that everybody involved with Tiger basketball can be proud of," Rhodes said. "It is something our school and community can be proud of. Taking a look at that long of a time span, and to have a program at No. 1 tells people we are doing a good job."
The winning percentage is somewhat bittersweet to the Tigers, who have yet to claim a state championship in the decade despite the talented teams that have come their way.
"I don't feel that bad because the journey is almost as good as the destination," Rhodes said. "Because we haven't gotten that second state championship, we still have plenty to work for.
"It has never been our goal to win as many games as we can; our goal is always to chase the state championship," he said. "The record we have put together has been a byproduct of our goal."
The only varsity program to have a better winning percentage in the first six seasons of the decade has been New Albany with a 171-33 record, one victory more than Warsaw's. One man has had a hand in helping build both programs - Jim Miller.
He was the coach before Rhodes at Warsaw, and he was the coach for much of New Albany's '90s success before turning the reins over to Don Unruh three years ago.
"You have to have a dedicated coaching staff and dedicated kids that are committed to excellence, that is the secret," Miller said. "That is getting more and more difficult, but if that is what you demand, you can be successful."
Miller is a guidance counselor at New Albany, but still fills part of his time helping this year's Warsaw program with tips and suggestions after looking at game film.
When Miller arrived in Warsaw 20 years ago, he brought along one of his former players to be his assistant. In 1980, that assistant, Rhodes, was selected to be his successor when he decided to head to Huntington.
Miller said the work he started and Rhodes has taken from there was not easy judging by what was there when he came to Warsaw.
"Probably basketball didn't look like it was anything that they were interested in," he said. "I think the people were more concerned with summer at the lakes and things like that. I don't know how much it had been pushed (before). To be successful, you have to dedicate yourself to a program, and that is what we did."
Rhodes said that contrary to popular belief, he and Miller did not start with the feeder program (the mainstay of the Warsaw program now) right away.
"We actually have built the program from the top down," Rhodes said. "When we first came (Miller and Rhodes), we worried about the varsity and JV programs and not much else. As we have established credibility, we have worked our way down."
A lot of credit for getting things going for Warsaw has to go to Rhodes and his coaching staff, which has been together for a while. Gunter has been with Rhodes every step of the way, and Ogle has been there for the entire '90's run. Add those two to a list of coaches along the way that includes Tony Sumpter, Dan Wray, Tracy Furnivall and John Snyder.
"Coach Rhodes is the main reason (for the success)," Ogle said. "He is the driving force behind this. He is very hard-working, and you combine that with being a smart man, you have a very good coach."
And just think, Rhodes wasn't even the No. 1 choice to succeed Miller.
"Some people had another coach or two in mind," Miller said. "I really pushed hard that you don't change a winning program by getting new people. It has come out that he is a successful coach. I think he is the best coach in Indiana, there is no question."
Rhodes has a career record of 319-106 (75 percent) in 18 seasons at Warsaw. He has won 13 sectionals, 6 regionals, 4 semistates, 9 Northern Lakes Conference titles and one state title. [[In-content Ad]]