Brubacher savors good memories from Tabor days

Many of former Tabor College coach Don Bru?bacher?s successes have been noted in recent weeks, leading up to his induction into Tabor?s Athletic Hall of Fame.

There?s no need to repeat all of his successes, but I thought it would be interesting if Don had an opportunity to share some of his memories, considering he started coaching men?s basketball in the late ?70s. Here?s some of that interview.

Joe: When you look at your career at Tabor, what is your favorite memory or couple of memories as a student-athlete and as a coach?

Don: The favorite memory as an athlete was the KCAC men?s basketball championship, I believe the first for Tabor. In general, the good friends during those years and the relationships that have lasted.

Joe: I won?t ask you to name your favorite student-athletes because it would be easy to overlook someone, but which team played closest to their potential?

Don: The teams in the early years that produced the four consecutive championships probably produced the fondest memories, for the most part because it was early in my coaching years. There was clear change in leadership in those teams in those seasons from Karl Kliewer, Lewis Wiebe, Jim Dechant, Lance Ringler, Al Vogts and Tim Miller at the beginning, to Grant Ringler, Dan Dechant, etc., in the later years of that run. Dan and Grant did span all four years.

It is really impossible to predict which teams played closest to their maximum potential, so I cannot answer that part of the question. It is also true that there is some element in every team I coached that was special.

Joe: Is there a particular game you coached at Tabor that you will never forget?

Don: The win at Friends when Karl Kliewer made the game winner at the buzzer probably has the strongest memory, but there were lots of those and I do not want to pretend one is in a class of its own. I tend to remember the losses more clearly than the wins, but prefer not to get into that.

Joe: What did you enjoy most about coaching? What was the most frustrating or difficult thing?

Don: I enjoyed the individual development of a player(s) a lot, and the teaching process was a joy. The development of a true team, one that maximized the individual abilities of every team member and minimized the weaknesses of each individual player was the greatest accomplishment and joy.

The most difficult factor was the change in the game of basketball over the years, from a basketball skill and team-oriented game to a strength and individually-oriented game.

Joe: What do you like about what you?re doing now at Hillsdale College?

Don: It is nice to focus on an administrative role rather than balancing coaching, teaching and administration. It is nice to be a part of the senior management team for the college and see the operation of the college from the inside. It is good to be in an organization that is very successful.

The challenges here are also very great as we have extremely high academic standards and are a comparatively small school and compete in a conference with the most powerful athletic programs in NCAA Division II, and those schools do not approach our academic standards.

It feels like Hillsdale represents the best of the student-athlete model, and we experience significant competitive success. That seems worthwhile.

*?*?*

Sometimes I wonder how Don did everything he did while at Tabor, although he would quickly point out that many faculty and coaches have worn many hats at Tabor.

I didn?t bother asking what he did in his spare time because I can?t imagine he had much between coaching, recruiting, teaching classes and being a husband to Janette and helping to raise three sons. I get tired just thinking about it. I suppose it comes with the profession.

More from Joe Kleinsasser
Recapping Tabor athletics for 2011-12
In the annals of Tabor athletic history, 2011-12 will not go down...
Read More