Crestview names h.s. gym for Ray Etzler

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY – To many Crestview graduates and fans, Hall of Fame Coach Ray Etzler is already an institution. But on Friday, Coach Etzler became a part of Crestview itself as the high school gym was renamed Ray Etzler Gymnasium to honor his accomplishments in 28 years of coaching.

Etzler noted how lucky he was to have been able to return to his home community and coach so many of the Convoy area’s basketball players.

On hand for the dedication ceremony were some of Etzler’s illustrious colleagues, including fellow Hall of Famers Al Welch of Wayne Trace and Bob Seggerson of Lima Central Catholic, as well as Frank Minnig, who coached at Van Wert and Delphos, and Dave Evans, the former Lincolnview coach whose Lancers were state runners-up in 1996 and state champions in 1997.

“First of all we want to bestow a great honor on a great man,” said Bob Motycka, a 1968 Crestview graduate and a former basketball player under Etzler.

A large sign with the words “Ray Etzler Gymnasium” was revealed on the wall of the gymnasium during the dedication, while a bronze plaque that will be displayed in the hallway outside the gym was also unveiled.

During his part of the dedication, Motycka listed many of Etzler’s coaching accomplishments, including a career record of 445-171 in 28 seasons, none conference championships, 16 sectional titles, five district titles and a regional championship.

Not surprisingly, the person most unimpressed with his accomplishments was probably Etzler himself. “I stand here with a great amount of humility,” Coach Etzler told the large crowd that showed up to honor him between the junior varsity and varsity games Friday evening. “I’m overwhelmed by what’s happened here in the last month … and this special honor that you’ve given me.”

Etzler, a deeply religious man, gave most of the credit for his success to a higher power, noting that it was God that gave him “the ability to coach and work with people.”

“I must say I’ve been truly blessed in many ways: blessed to have been able to come back to my home community,” he added.

During an interview session following the presentation, Etzler again said he felt overwhelmed by the honor given to him. “I’m very humbled by it; sometimes you feel undeserving.”

He also said he felt the honor wasn’t his alone, but should be shared with all the coaches, players, cheerleaders, statisticians, and trainers, as well as the fans who rooted for Crestview during his coaching years at the school.

Etzler also had compliments for his colleagues who came to honor him for his coaching successes. “When you played against teams that they had, you’d better be ready or you’d go home with your tail between your legs,” the former Crestview coach said. “We were always a better team the next game (after playing their teams).”

Etzler particularly thanked his wife, Colleen, and mother-in-law, Helen Bagley, for the support they have given him during his coaching years. “I had a great supporting cast at home,” he noted, adding that his wife “was a very, very supportive person … (someone) irreplaceable in your life.”

He also said his mother-in-law was so supportive she even attended games when he was in high school.

Etzler also acknowledged several other people who had a big impact on his life. Those included Marlin Thompson, a mentor who was the first guy he knew to ever go to college, and several of his early coaches.

Although he had a very successful career as a coach, Etzler said there were two highlights that stood out from the crowd: being able to coach all three of his sons — Doug, Andy and Dan — and to have a team go to the state tournament.

He also said he didn’t feel the support was the same today for coaches who might want to do the same thing he did. “The support for long-term coaches, I’m not sure it’s the same today,” Coach Etzler noted.

Doug Etzler, who also played for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the late 1980s and early 1990s and now coaches at Teays Valley High School, said he was glad for his dad. “It’s a great honor,” he said, adding that his father “was more of a teacher and leader of men that played basketball, (who also) prepared us for life after basketball.”

“Coaching was just a small part of it,” Doug Etzler said, adding that his father was “a great man, a great leader; I’m so lucky to have a dad like this and to play for him.”