HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
RICK BROOK, SEBRING MCKINLEY
2001 RECIPIENT
After 35 years as a head coach, 32 of those at Sebring
McKinley, Coach Brook retired into "withdrawal from coaching". His presence
from the coaching profession will be sorely missed. His commitment to the
game and his players was outstanding as evidenced by his success - 571
victories. His teams at McKinley won more than 75% of the time. They won
the Tri-County league 18 times, Sectional Champs 22 times, District Champs eight
times, Regional two times, and Runner-up in the State championship once.
Coach Brook's philosophy was that you approach each year with
a positive attitude. He believed in each player and what he could add to the
team, instilling in each one a deep sense of pride in his role and how it fit
vitally into their team concept. He wanted every player to carry with them the
rest of their lives the lessons they learned on the court, believing they can be
successful.
Rick graduated from East Palestine High School and then
served in the U.S. Army from 1955-58. In 1962, he graduated with a B.A. from
Muskingum College and married his wife, Barbara. He earned a Masters Degree from
Youngstown State University in 1972. He and his wife have two sons, Jay and Dan.
Jay and wife Diana have two daughters, Sarah and Megan. Their other son Dan and
wife, Amy have two sons, Elijah and Noah.
Professionally, Rick began his coaching career as an
assistant at West Branch in 1962. After two years he was named head coach at
Leetonia High School. He became head coach at McKinley in 1967, remaining
through the 1999 season. McKinley had not had a winning season in the previous
ten when he took over. While there he had only one losing season (10-11) in 32
years.
His honors as a coach include Coach of the Ohio North-South
All-Star Game in 1970; 1973-1993 District Director of OHSBCA; First Annual
Muskingum College Distinguished Coaching Award - 1975; Organizer and Director,
along with Doc Daugherty, of the first Hall of Fame; 1992 - Paul Walker Award.
In 1989 the Sebring High School Gymnasium was renamed "Brook Gym".
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