Zolman Sticks By Wawasee Girls Program
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
As a man of principles, those were questioned.
But through it all, Kem Zolman withstood the criticism.
There were those who believed he was made the head coach of the Wawasee girls program by virtue of being the father of future Indiana state scoring leader and Tennessee Lady Vol Shanna Zolman.[[In-content Ad]]There were rumors Shanna's commitment to Tennesse hinged on a spot on the Vols' bench for Kem.
Coach Zolman rubbished those claims by sticking with the Warriors.
Though girls basketball may not have been his first choice, he at one time hoped to take over the Wawasee boys job, he's proven the critics wrong.
Coach Zolman was and is the right person for the job. Zolman is 141-65, a .684 winning percentage, in nine years at Wawasee and has just one losing season in his tenure.
The Warriors have won three sectionals in Zolman's tenure and now prepare for a chance at a Class 3A state title against Brebeuf Jesuit of Indianapolis.
Zolman graduated from Churubusco High School and then Indiana University in Bloomington.
He found his way to Wawasee where he sat on the boys bench as an assistant to Gary Goshert.
Goshert left after the 1995-1996 season.
As his daughter's ability became known across the state and as she approached high school, the offers came.
"There were rumors of houses, cars and garages," said Zolman of the more ridiculous rumors he heard. "We did try to leave at one point," said Zolman. "But God works everything out for a purpose. Shanna was like 'Why can't we make it work here?' So because of Shanna, we stayed and it did work."
After Shanna graduated in 2002, there were those who assumed Zolman wouldn't remaing with the girls program. But Zolman stuck around.
The year after Shanna graduated, the Warriors went 12-10 as a 4A team, then 7-14 in the 2003-2004 season after moving back to 3A.
Zolman has stuck with the Warriors, and through the hard work of building a program from the grade school ranks on up, Wawasee is primed to be a force to be reckoned with for a while.
This year the Warrriors were an eye-popping 53-7 in freshmen, junior varsity and varsity combined.
"He's very organized and very thorough in everything he does," said Wawasee freshmen coach Jamie McAdams. "He expects us to have practice plans every day. At times he tries to do too much himself. It's great to coach with great human beings like Coach Zolman and the rest of the coaching staff and great Christian fellows."
Zolman said he didn't enjoy the success as much when Shanna was around because of it being his daughter. The spector of nepatism caused Zolman to enjoy the process a little less.
This year has been different.
"After the regional, I just enjoyed sitting in the bleachers with my mom and dad and watching the girls enjoy the win," said Zolman.
"This is the first team he's taken to state," said senior Jessie Wolf. "It's great to see him get the recognition he has."
In talking to Zolman's players, they all seem to appreciate the fact that he's there for them.
Take junior Kalyn Lantz, who started as a freshmen and sophomore, and despite switching roles and coming off the bench, serves as a vocal leader and coach on the floor.
"Leadership is a God-given characteristic," said Lantz. "Coach Zolman has helped me develop that. I talk to him all the time."
Zolman moved past former Wawasee coach Dale Brannock for all-time wins at Wawasee. Saturday he looks to make even more history with the school's first state title in girls basketball.
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As a man of principles, those were questioned.
But through it all, Kem Zolman withstood the criticism.
There were those who believed he was made the head coach of the Wawasee girls program by virtue of being the father of future Indiana state scoring leader and Tennessee Lady Vol Shanna Zolman.[[In-content Ad]]There were rumors Shanna's commitment to Tennesse hinged on a spot on the Vols' bench for Kem.
Coach Zolman rubbished those claims by sticking with the Warriors.
Though girls basketball may not have been his first choice, he at one time hoped to take over the Wawasee boys job, he's proven the critics wrong.
Coach Zolman was and is the right person for the job. Zolman is 141-65, a .684 winning percentage, in nine years at Wawasee and has just one losing season in his tenure.
The Warriors have won three sectionals in Zolman's tenure and now prepare for a chance at a Class 3A state title against Brebeuf Jesuit of Indianapolis.
Zolman graduated from Churubusco High School and then Indiana University in Bloomington.
He found his way to Wawasee where he sat on the boys bench as an assistant to Gary Goshert.
Goshert left after the 1995-1996 season.
As his daughter's ability became known across the state and as she approached high school, the offers came.
"There were rumors of houses, cars and garages," said Zolman of the more ridiculous rumors he heard. "We did try to leave at one point," said Zolman. "But God works everything out for a purpose. Shanna was like 'Why can't we make it work here?' So because of Shanna, we stayed and it did work."
After Shanna graduated in 2002, there were those who assumed Zolman wouldn't remaing with the girls program. But Zolman stuck around.
The year after Shanna graduated, the Warriors went 12-10 as a 4A team, then 7-14 in the 2003-2004 season after moving back to 3A.
Zolman has stuck with the Warriors, and through the hard work of building a program from the grade school ranks on up, Wawasee is primed to be a force to be reckoned with for a while.
This year the Warrriors were an eye-popping 53-7 in freshmen, junior varsity and varsity combined.
"He's very organized and very thorough in everything he does," said Wawasee freshmen coach Jamie McAdams. "He expects us to have practice plans every day. At times he tries to do too much himself. It's great to coach with great human beings like Coach Zolman and the rest of the coaching staff and great Christian fellows."
Zolman said he didn't enjoy the success as much when Shanna was around because of it being his daughter. The spector of nepatism caused Zolman to enjoy the process a little less.
This year has been different.
"After the regional, I just enjoyed sitting in the bleachers with my mom and dad and watching the girls enjoy the win," said Zolman.
"This is the first team he's taken to state," said senior Jessie Wolf. "It's great to see him get the recognition he has."
In talking to Zolman's players, they all seem to appreciate the fact that he's there for them.
Take junior Kalyn Lantz, who started as a freshmen and sophomore, and despite switching roles and coming off the bench, serves as a vocal leader and coach on the floor.
"Leadership is a God-given characteristic," said Lantz. "Coach Zolman has helped me develop that. I talk to him all the time."
Zolman moved past former Wawasee coach Dale Brannock for all-time wins at Wawasee. Saturday he looks to make even more history with the school's first state title in girls basketball.
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