Longtime Red Hook girls basketball coach John Kuhn remembers having to be coaxed in to coaching 35 years ago but the winningest coach in New York State history for girls high school basketball said it wasn't as hard for him to say goodbye.
" I think that no matter how well a program does, I think there's a logical time when coaches should stop coaching I always wanted to stop when there was tons of talent in the program so that you don't leave when the cupboard is bare which would make it a huge struggle for the new coach."
Kuhn decided that last season would be his final one coaching the Lady Raiders after beginning as the head coach back in 1973. What Kuhn accomplished at Red Hook is unmatched in local girls basketball.
During his stay on the bench, the Raiders racked up 23 divisional crowns, 16 league championships, 13 Section 9 titles and had an appearance at the New York State Final Four. Kuhn amassed an amazing 619 victories while suffering defeat only 124 times. During his 35 years at the helm, Kuhn's team were state-ranked for 18 years. Perhaps an even more amazing stat is that the teams Kuhn coached never had a losing season.
" I think they were all different in subtle ways but they were all fun and they were all enjoyable," when talking about the different personalities of the teams he coached. " In the early days, they were friends on and off the court. They had a tremendous team camaraderie and they really rooted hard for each other even when they weren't in the game. Those practices were extremely competitive as only competition between friends can be."
With numerous championship teams, Kuhn named a few of his favorite coaching years. " I loved the 70's teams," said Kuhn. " I thought they've worked very well as a team and they had tremendous faith in each other. They literally believed that they couldn't lose. The 97-98 teams were very special teams and the 2006 team was a very special team. Gee whiz, there are so many great teams and great moments."
Fortunately or unfortunately for Kuhn, he seems to remember most every game he has coached in vivid detail. He can recite the important moments from games played 20 years ago like they were yesterday. When asked what he remembered most, wins or losses, he didn't hesitate.
" Unfortunately , you remember them both but, if there's one thing I've learned, its that coaches and players should enjoy success at the time they have it because it is so hard to achieve. Celebrate those victories. Celebrate those championships and enjoy them."
He then remembered a bus ride home when one of his players, Lorena Coscio, summed up those feelings in a nutshell.
" We had just lost a championship game and she said, ' Why do you never feel as good after winning as you feel bad after losing? I told her I didn't know but I knew that it was true."
Kuhn's teams didn't have many long bus rides home after games because the one constant year after year was winning, regardless of the era or personnel on the team.
" I guess we've run every possible offense and defense over the years," chuckled Kuhn when asked how he has adjusted to the changes in the game. " You have to adapt your style of play to the abilities of the players you're coaching at that moment. I guess that the biggest challenge and the most satisfaction that you get is when you can make it work and win using a variety of different styles."
Ask him to pick out his most memorable wins and Kuhn mentions an overtime victory over Millbrook in the MHAL championship game, a comeback victory over Highland at Highland where a Kim Gilbert buzzer-beater won the game and a sectional title they won going away at West Point after trailing by six points in the fourth quarter. As memorable as those games were, there still seems to be one that Kuhn refers back to, a thrilling last second victory over Pelham that propelled his team to the New York State Final Four.
" I can still remember Marybeth Clark came down with seconds on the clock and got fouled but they weren't going to call it in that spot. She hung in the air, focused and made the shot so we crushed them by two," he said followed by his trademark laugh."
Losses are something that he also learned to live with over the years.
" I try not to dwell on things like that but you learn a lot when you lose games," he said. " You have plenty of time to dissect the game and think about things you could have done differently. I suppose that's the curse of all coaches, the woulda, coulda, shoulda."
Given a chance to play one game in his illustrious career over again, Kuhn picked the state championship game that saw his team come up just a little bit short.
" I would post Christina Buso on the left block and go to her 10 times in a row," he laughed. " I think she would have had a chance to win the ballgame for us but we went with the seniors and they almost pulled it off."
Kuhn is quick to deflect any of the credit for his success away from him and on to his players.
" Having players that are willing to be coached, that is the key," said Kuhn. " Coaches don't win games, players win games. Thats really important for coaches to realize. Players win championships. Coaches can lose them but only players can win them."
" I think its just a question of having had players that were willing to make sacrifices and work hard and with each other," Kuhn continued. " That's really the story of Red Hook basketball. Its more about the players that have gone through Red Hook. I think that they have been exceptional. We certainly had our share of talented players, committed players and players who worked well together. These players would come in and accept and believe the philosophy."
He said that there are many things about coaching that are just as rewarding as the wins and losses.
" Seeing people develop and knowing where they started and knowing how hard hard they worked to get where they ended up is nice," he said. " I'll tell what else is nice, when you see the lives that the players have made for themselves over the last 35 years. They had great careers and now have great families. They realized their potential as the great people they were in high school. That's very satisfying."
Kuhn admitted being a bit curious about how his former team was doing while playing their first game recently. He said he is excited that new coach Pam White was hired and thinks she will do a great job implementing her own style and creating her own mark on Red Hook girls basketball.
" I'll see them play this year," said Kuhn about taking in a game at some point during the season. " I'm sure the last thing the new coach needs is the ex-coach hanging around, you know? It seems to me that it would be a little unfair."
There's no denying that Kuhn misses the game that he developed a passion for back in elementary school as the manager and scorekeeper for his high school basketball team. He fell in love with the game and it led him to Red Hook where he rewrote the high school record books for victories.
Kuhn says he has no regrets and says that he would never rule out coaching again but he will look back at his days at Red Hook with fond memories.
" I've really enjoyed coaching there," Kuhn said. " I think its a great opportunity. I'm glad I did it. I would do it all over again if I was staring over in 1973."
