Episode 69 - Kirk Lehman - Retired Head Coach - Defiance High School (Defiance, Ohio)

10/07/20 • 69 min

Basketball and Life: with Coach Jon Cook

I have often referred to the coaching profession as a fraternity or brotherhood, and it is. However, it is also a highly competitive and sometimes ego-driven profession as well. Because of that nearly everyone who has spent any time in coaching likely has members of the fraternity whom he/she dislikes. Likewise, those of us who have spent time in the coaching ranks are likely to have coaches who dislike us. It is just a fact of life in coaching. Except, it seems, for Kirk Lehman. I have been around high school coaching in Ohio for more than 25 years, and I have never heard anyone speak about Kirk Lehman that doesn't seem to absolutely love the guy. That is just one reason that I am so excited to have him on the podcast. Coach Lehman has had a remarkable journey in high school coaching. After a playing career at Ohio University, Coach Lehman was an assistant at Logan High School. He became the head coach at Rossford High School and after a tumultuous ending to his time there, he was out of high school coaching for a number of years before taking over the program at his alma mater, Defiance High School, where he won an improbable state title in 2017. Coach Lehman retired after the 2020 season. Please enjoy my visit with Kirk Lehman of Defiance High School.

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Episode 68 - Brett Hammons - Head Coach Lincolnview High School (Middle Point, Ohio)

Brett Hammons has been coaching basketball at Lincolnview High School for 14 years. He spent six years as an assistant, including four years as either the JV coach or the varsity assistant. He has been the head coach for the past eight seasons and has led the program to remarkable success, including a trip to the state final four. Coach Hammons is equal parts humble and ultra competitive, and in my estimation is one of the most underappreciated coaches in a northwest Ohio region that is overflowing with outstanding basketball coaches across all high school divisions. As Brett prepares to begin his 9th season at the helm, he sat down with me to talk about his basketball journey from playing at Crestview High School and Defiance College through his time as an assistant, and now building his own program. Please enjoy my visit with Brett Hammons of Lincolnview High School.

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Episode 70 - Nate Axelrod - Assistant Coach Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, Ohio)

Nate Axelrod was a phenomenal player at Ohio Wesleyan University. A 3-time North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year, an All-American and the NCAA Division III National Player of the Year as a senior. After beginning his college coaching career as an assistant at Oberlin College, and while planning to serve as a graduate assistant at Otterbein College, Coach Axelrod was given the unexpected opportunity to return to his alma mater last October, just days before the official start of practice. In today's episode Coach Axelrod talks about his amazing transformation as player from his high school days at Dublin Coffman through his magical career at OWU, his brief experience coaching at recruiting at one of the truly academically elite institutions in the country at Oberlin and the transition from player to top assistant under Coach Mike DeWitt with the Bishops. Please enjoy my visit with Nate Axelrod of Ohio Wesleyan University.