Coach Ketchum Stepping Down

Along with a very successful conclusion to the AHS boys’ basketball season, some unfortunate news was also revealed.  The 2014 season would mark long-time coach Steve Ketchum’s final chapter with the squad.  Ketchum has been coaching basketball for a grand total of 31 years, and has been the AHS boys’ basketball coach for sixteen.  During these years, Ketchum has been a huge influence on many AHS students, both inside and out of the gym.

During Ketchum’s extensive coaching career with AHS, he won six league championships, made it to the elite eight five times, coached two final four games, and even made it to the State Championship game in 2010.  With the help of Coach K, many AHS athletes such as Austin Roark, Corey Parker, and Andrew Papenfus have gone on to play college basketball at Division 1 schools such as Loyola University, Drake University, and Santa Clara University.

This season, the boys’ basketball team went 15-1 in their conference, winning the 3A league title, and made it to the second round at state playoffs finishing with an overall record of 19-5.

“We had great leadership amongst our captains,” said Ketchum.  “The team really achieved lot this year and I’m thrilled with their results.”

This season is no fluke.  The AHS Varsity Basketball program has gone 41 – 4 combined in league over its last three campaigns.

I asked Coach K, as he is familiarly known, why after such an illustrious career and so much recent success, he was stepping down.  “The number one, most important factor was my family and my children.   I’ve been coaching for 31 years and I really do love it; however coaching a varsity team can be very time-consuming.  You’re a counselor, a father, and even sometimes a psychologist,” said Coach K.

There is no doubt that it will be dificult to fill Coach K’s big basketball shoes.  He’s had such a major influence on the AHS basketball program, the players, and the school.  If there were a high school coaches’ All Star Team, Coach K would likely be its starting point guard and MVP.    He’s also quite a character, beloved by many of his players, often seen ambling around school, in the gym or on the sidelines like an NBA star.  Senior Mo Roach had this to say about him: “My fondest memory of Ketchum was during my junior season, when before every game coach would stroll onto the bus with ultimate swagger- sunglasses on regardless of weather- chanting ‘it’s a beautiful day, baby’ while handing out fist-bumps to each player.”3

 

It’s not easy to sum up everything Coach K has accomplished over his long, successful career.  That said, senior, and co-captain Clayton Crawford captured a feeling, which is shared by many, many people.

“Coach K’s basketball record speaks for how great of a coach he is. He has helped so many of his players develop into better people and instilled a great work ethic in them,” Crawford said. “Coach helped me grow into a leader amongst my peers and I thank him for everything he has done for me.”