C’view girls’ coach announces retirement

VW independent/submitted information

CONVOY — Coach Greg Rickard has officially offered his resignation as Crestview girls’ varsity basketball coach after serving as head coach of the program for 26 years and as a basketball coach at Crestview for 28 years.

Rickard, whose overall record upon retirement stands at 428 wins and 158 losses, will continue as an educator and assistant athletic director at Crestview.

“Coach Rickard has been a pillar of our girls’ basketball program and Crestview athletics in general,” said Crestview Athletic Director Dave Bowen. “The number of wins he has compiled pales in comparison to the success of the young ladies who have had an opportunity to learn from his teaching. Coach will be missed on the sidelines, but the positive impact that he has had on our girls’ program will reverberate for a very long time.”

Highlights of Coach Rickard’s career include picking up win No. 1 November 28, 1988, while his 100th win came January 13, 1994, against Bluffton; his 200th win February 18, 2003, versus Parkway; his 300th win March 5, 2009, versus New Bremen; and his 400th win January 17, 2015, versus Ironton in the Classic in the Country at Berlin Hiland High School.

Rickard’s teams have won nine Northwest Conference championships, 16 sectional championships, four district titles, two regional championships, and were in the state final four two times.