Prep Basketball: Steady and Successful
By Rand Middleton
rmiddleton@wctrib.com
WILLMAR — When word got out that he planned to retire as Willmar’s girls basketball coach at the end of the season, the response was immediate.
Parents of current players were quick to put together a “Brad Atchison Appreciation” event.
Tonight, prior to the non-conference game against an excellent Sauk Centre team, there will be a recognition ceremony.
This wasn’t all by his design. He wanted to keep his decision under wraps. But the news broke in his hometown of Moorhead where the ex-Spud — a four-sport athlete — was honored on Feb. 11.
This is his 17th year at Willmar after 18 seasons at Clara City.
“I’ve been a blessed man to be able to coach in the ‘Big Red Gym’, he comments. “Lots of people have made me look good. Many, many great players and loyal, dedicated coaches.”
Hal Miller assisted him for 11 years, Sally Wilson 12 and Jenyne Beehler is now in her 13th.
He’s quick to acknowledge the role his wife, LeAnn, has played in his career.
“She allowed me to do what I love to do for 35 years, coach and teach kids.”
Every year, she told her husband: “You do whatever you have to with your team and I’ll take care of everything at home.”
When Atchison entered the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002, Les Feia, his assistant at Clara City for all 18 years, stated: “We had some very successful teams here but the girls also had a lot of fun.”
In 1985, Clara City and Maynard paired some sports team and became Midwest Minnesota. The first Rebels’ girls basketball team had nine starters back.
Shannon Groothuis was a starting post at Maynard but be-came a starting wing on the new team.
Now Shannon Mittag with a son on Willmar’s state-bound wrestling team, she recalls that the players blended easily.
“We’d been at the same camps, gone to church together and had a volleyball season behind us,” she said. “What I remember is that we were extremely well conditioned.”
The Clara City-Maynard combo reached the state tournament (just two classes in those days) for the first time for either community in girls. The Rebels came from 11 points back to shade Le Seuer 50-49 in the Class A quarterfinals before breezing to double-digit wins over New York Mills and then East Grand Forks.
Atchison coached in a second state championship game in 2004, losing in the AAA final to defending champion Minneapolis North.
That Willmar team, which finished 24-6, was one of four straight Cardinal teams that won at least 20 games. The year before Willmar was 26-0 when it was upset by Hutchinson in the Section 2AAA final.
In March 2002, after losing to Marshall in the section semifinals, it was clear the Willmar program was ascending with the emergence of a 6-foot-1 eighth-grader, Laura Nielsen, who would go on to become the school’s all-time leading scorer.
At the time, Atchison spoke of the importance played by the Willmar Basketball Booster and their traveling teams to the varsity successes.
In 2001-02, Miller’s JV team went 13-1 and Beehler’s sophomores 20-2.
Miller, Willmar’s long-time tennis coach, is semi-retired and spending time in Florida. He was unable to make it back for tonight’s festivities.
“Whatever he did, he did it with class,” said Miller on Monday on his way to Orlando. “He runs a complete program. From fourth grade on up, I swear he knows the name of every kid.”
When Shorty Schroeder retired in 1995, Miller lobbied athletic director Bob Glaesman to consider the Wolverines’ head coach.
“I was a fan of his before he came here,” Miller continued. “I liked the way his teams played with high energy. You could tell they really enjoyed playing for him. I’ve always felt his strength was getting the maximum out of his players individually.”
In those first years at Willmar, the close-knit coaching corps included sophomore coach Lee Gauer, volunteers Ray and Betty Hyser and later Beehler in 1999.
“I got the job, I think, when (volleyball coach) Mary Hanson recommended me after I’d worked my first fall under her,” said Beehler.
She calls the head coach “Old school’’ placing the emphasis on defense.
The Cardinal mantra: “If you work hard on defense, the offense will takes care of itself.”
She said her mentor’s consistency makes everything easier for both players and staff.
“There’s a routine. You know what to expect so you can focus on your job.”
In her dozen years in the gym and as a colleague teaching Phy Ed at the middle school, Beehler said she’s never heard “Atch” put anyone down.
“He’s always positive, looking for the best in people and situations,” said the assistant coach. “I’m proud to call him a great friend.”
In the last 10 seasons, the Cardinals have finished either first or second in the Central Lakes Conference seven times. Even in a building year, the team was never worse than 6-8 or 8-10.
While he will step out of coaching next month, he plans to return to teach next year.
Then, who knows? Perhaps, like Miller, there will be time for a Florida vacation and golf instead of hoops in winter.