PAUL WALKER AWARD
RICH VOIERS - 1993 RECIPIENT
Rich Voiers of Bay High School in Bay Village, a 30-year
veteran of Ohio High School Basketball Coaching, was honored as the 1993
recipient of the Paul Walker Award.
1963 seems a long time ago to most of today's coaches, and Rich and Maureen
Voiers never considered during the hectic 60's that they would be nervously
awaiting half-time of the State Tournament Division I Finals like they were
on Saturday, March 27, 1993. Here it was 30 years after Rich began as Head
Varsity Basketball Coach, that he was nervous about what to do at perhaps
his final appearance on the hardwood. Memories of past experiences during
those 30 years at Bay High School, would flash by, if only subconsciously,
and bring warm satisfaction in a job, not only well done, but recognized by
their peers. OHSBCA Past President Gary Walters recognizes "Rich Voiers as
the Paul Walker Award Winner for outstanding service during his basketball
coaching career." This award is not given to a coach for one victory, or for
one season of victories. This isn't something that goes to a coach for
having a few good players that gave their school a strong four-year run.
This is for timeless hours of bus trips, banquets, practices, meetings,
summer camps, individual conferences, back yard drill sessions, telephone
contacts, all-star ballots, all-star games, parent letters, late night
meals, early morning conditioning, last day cuts, scrimmages, regular season
and tournament games, the heartbreaking losses, and the championships won.
The players whose lives were touched and directed. The letters and kind
words they said, etc. for three decades. This is an award worth winning, and
on richly deserved.
Rich Voiers just completed his 30th season as a head varsity boys basketball
coach, all at Bay High School in Bay Village (Cuyahoga County). He has a
446-176 record (.717 percentage) including a 17-6 record this season. The
1992-93 team was eliminated from the tournament trail 48-40 by St. Marys
Memorial in the regional semifinals. He entered the current season 10th on
the list of active boys basketball coaches in Ohio. He served as junior
varsity coach at the school for six years prior to being named head coach.
Rich was born in CIncinnati and is a graduate of Greenhills High School
where he lettered four years each in football, basketball and baseball and
one year in track. He is also a graduate of Miami University where he had a
four-year track scholarship.
He served as president of the Greater Cleveland Basketball Coaches
Associations for two years and a representative of the Southwest Conference
for 12 years. He has also been director of District 2 of the Ohio High
School Basketball Coaches Association for 10 years.
His teams won the Southwest Conference 14-times including two teams (1997
and 1989) which were undefeated during the regular season. He was named SWC
Coach of the Year 13-times, Cleveland Coach of the Year four times,
Northeast Coach of the Year twice and Ohio Division II Coach of the Year
once (1989). He was also selected to coach the North team in the Ohio
North-South Game in 1977 and in the Ohio-Michigan All-Star Game in 1989. His
Bay team was regional runner-up in 1989. Voiers' teams have also won three
district championships, two district runner-ups honors and 12 sectional
titles.
Voiers and his wife, Maureen, are the parents of three sons, Douglas,
Richard and Gregory.
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