Former VW cage coach in Hall of Fame

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

His numbers are impressive, as is the impact he’s had on former players, assistant coaches, and many others.

Coach Dave Froelich led Van Wert High School’s boys’ basketball program for 21 seasons (1991-92 until 2012-2013) and racked up 279 wins, 188 losses, three Western Buckeye League championships (1995, 2001, and 2007), three WBL runner-up finishes (2002, 2004, and 2005), eight Division II sectional titles (1994, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2011), two Division II district championships (2007, 2011), and three district runner-up finishes (2000, 2001, and 2005).

Combine those numbers and a lengthy list of well-deserved coaching accolades with a highly successful nine-year stint at Colonel Crawford High School (1983-1992, 141 wins, 61 losses, four conference championships, and six sectional championships) and Froelich has 420 wins, 249 losses and a pending induction into the prestigious Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Froelich, a Van Wert High School graduate who played at Alma College and is now the school’s assistant principal, will be honored between the junior varsity and varsity contests against Elida on Friday night, then will become part of the 2018 Class of the OHSBA Hall of Fame on April 21.

Looking back on his coaching career, Froelich said the most important thing was relationships he built with assistant coaches and players; and while some coaches may point to a specific team or game as a favorite memory, he said practice tops his list.

“I liked tinkering, I liked trying to get ready, I liked trying to do things to put our kids in the best position to compete,” Froelich explained. “The games were fun, but I much preferred practice and the preparation part.”

“The success we had here sticks out, but sometimes the struggle years stick out too,” Froelich added with a laugh. “That’s all part of the journey you go through.”

Opposing coaches knew they had to be well prepared to play against against Dave Froelich-coached teams. Former Wayne Trace head coach Al Welch (a Hall of Fame member himself) remembers his teams playing against Van Wert.

“Dave was always the type of coach who was very well prepared,” Welch said. “His teams were very disciplined and they played very hard. He played a good solid man-to-man defense and on the offensive end they worked hard to get a really good shot.”

Jeff Heistan was the boys’ basketball coach at Shawnee from 1989-2004, and his teams locked horns many times with Froelich and the Cougars.

“At the time in the Western Buckeye League there was a tremendous comraderie between coaches despite what it appeared on the court,” Heistan said. “I have tremendous respect for coach Froelich due to his preparation for our game. We had many great games and I quickly realized that defeating him was a huge accomplishment.”

“Great coach, great husband and father, and a great friend,” Heistan added.

Current Van Wert boys’ basketball coach Mark Bagley worked with Froelich for 18 years and considers him a mentor, role model, and a loyal friend.

“He taught me how to be a professional and when the game was over, be humble, win or lose, treating the opposing team with respect,” Bagley said. “Fro never ran the score up on the other team and respected the game of basketball at the highest level. He loved practice, game planning, and getting our teams to play at the highest level.”

“I will forever be blessed to coach with him and he impacted hundreds of players to be the person they are today,” Bagley added.

After 30 years as a head coach, plus four years as an assistant at Perrysburg High School, Froelich was asked if there’s anything he misses about coaching.

“Just the day-to-day contact with the players and those relationships,” Froelich said. “I really don’t miss games that much. I enjoy going to watch them, but I miss that initial contact with our guys.”

While he misses that aspect of coaching, Froelich said he’s now able to enjoy other important parts of life.

“We have grandkids now so that fills a big void, but also to be able to do things with my wife (Rhonda), my kids, and their families on a wintery January night,” Froelich said. “It’s a long grind for everybody when you’re coaching.”