By DAVE KITCHELL
It was just two years ago near the top row of Logansport’s Berry Bowl that Kokomo basketball coach Brian McCauley slumped into a seat and attempted to explain the Kats’ worst sectional loss ever — 71-48 to Lafayette Jeff — that to no real surprise came on the heels of the program’s worst season ever, 5-16.
At age 28, McCauley may have been Kokomo’s youngest varsity basketball coach ever, but that night looked like a beaten-down, aging boxer. His first season as coach at his alma mater had included a barrage of body blows and a few shots to the head. It was long. It was painful.
True to character, he stayed positive that night, noting he was proud of his young, overmatched team. He thanked his three seniors, credited a talented Jeff squad and then spoke to his young players and to the future of Wildkat basketball.
“That varsity experience can serve them well, but they have to do something with it,” McCauley said. “Just because [next season] you are a year older doesn’t mean you’re improved. Nothing happens by accident. You want to get better. If Kokomo is to be successful, coaches, players — we all have to get better.”
Consider the message taken to heart. McCauley, his staff and the young players have gotten better, considerably better for that matter. From top to bottom the program has gone from third-rate to first-class in two years.
Coach Mike Heilman’s freshman team was unbeaten in 17 games and Matt Weaver’s JV squad closed at 17-3, despite regularly sharing players with the varsity.
Oh, and the varsity? It has won 13 of its last 16 games and since about 9:15 p.m. Saturday, is wearing the smile of a sectional champion. That title didn’t come nearly as easily as most of the 69 that preceded it, either. Included in the journey was a win over that same Jeff program that had inflicted the sectional carnage two years ago — and it came on Jeff’s home floor. In the title game win over McCutcheon, the Kats forced overtime after trailing by three points with :8 remaining, then won it 63-60.
McCauley’s wounds from that first season are nonetheless still visible.
“That season didn’t help my confidence,” he said with a laugh. “We were working hard with the players instilling discipline and toughness, trying to make them better as a team than they were as individuals. After that last game though I was thinking, ‘Man, what’s going on here? Am I teaching? Am I communicating?’
“But what we did that year was lay a foundation. That next season our players weren’t satisfied with being average and they had something to prove to themselves and their opponents. They wanted people to know that Kokomo basketball was better than that.”
Year two found the sectional runners-up Wildkats improving the win total from 5 to 13 and of course this year, the Kats stand 15-7, winners of 13 of their last 16 games.
KHS athletic director Mike Wade, who coached the Kats five seasons and Western coach Andy Weaver who mentored his then assistant McCauley for three seasons, noted McCauley’s growth.
“One of the biggest things in being a successful coach is how you respond to adversity and Brian and the team have had that this season,” Wade said. “They got through some rough patches and showed everyone what they were made of. Brian is a hard worker, relentless in finding an edge [over an opponent]. He’s improving all the time and for me, it’s exciting to see him develop as a coach.”
Weaver said there was never a doubt that McCauley’s hard work would pay dividends.
“I’ve witnessed his countless hours of preparation and I’ve read his scouting reports,” Weaver said. “It’s great to see his work paying off. Brian will continue to grow as a coach the longer he’s on the bench because he’s the guy who ultimately makes the decisions on substitutes, offensive sets, out of bounds plays and defense. Each young coach has to go through that process.”
McCauley, who played on three sectional championship teams and assisted Weaver with two Western sectional winners, said enjoying that success as a head coach was pretty sweet too.
“It’s so satisfying because it’s been a journey you’ve been on for four months with a great staff and group of players,” McCauley said. “Even had we lost, I would have felt we gave the best effort possible. Mostly it was nice to see the players rewarded for the time and work they put in.”
McCauley is especially pleased with his senior group of Ben Yeoman, Tyrone Brown, Patrick Hopkins and Alan Arnett.
“Just as I’ve grown, so have they,” he said. “It hasn’t always been easy — they were embarrassed two years ago too. But I appreciate their commitment and their desire to see the program improve.
“One of the best things Saturday after the game was seeing kids who were in our summer camp with their bodies painted, celebrating on the floor. They wanted a taste of the championship just like I did when I was that age. Our team won this [sectional] for future players and the future of our program.”
