THURSDAY THROWBACK: A Helluva Good Coach: Brad Botsch

I'm going to try this Thursday Throwback edition. This was the #4 all time story on the website, and the first really big story we ever had. I thank my friend Brad Botsch for sharing this. If you have a story you'd like to share, just email me at coach.david.heeb@gmail.com.

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Today's story is about a friend of mine, Coach Brad Botsch of Bernie High School. I've known Brad since we were like 14-15 years old. We met playing AAU ball for "Coach" Lloyd Rice. Brad and I would get even with Lloyd later in life for all the running he made us do, as Lloyd is one of the better referees in Southeast Missouri, while Brad and I were coaches reminding him of every "bad call" he made LOL.

Brad played at Bernie and was a good player, then later went back and coached at his Alma mater. Brad turned Bernie High School into one of the most successful programs in the area over the last several years, taking them to two state Final Four appearances and winning the prestigious Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. Besides winning like crazy, they're just a PAIN IN THE BEHIND to play against. I swear, Brad's kids run more set plays and EXECUTE those plays as good or better than anybody I've ever coached against. They were so disciplined and so multiple in their attack that most nights against them, I just thought it was a better idea to play zone defense LOL.

I asked Brad to contribute, and what he said was very touching. I asked him who was his biggest influence, and he said, "I think my mother had the most positive influence on me. My mom was an absolute soldier when it came to handling adversity and persevering. My father had a brain tumor when I was about 10. It was successfully removed and then came back a few years later. On the 2nd attempt to remove it....he never fully recovered and was in hospitals and nursing homes until he passed in 1993. I was 15. My little sister was 11. My mom had to deal with losing her husband (along with his prolonged sickness before his death) and raising two children. She did both with an unbelievable mental toughness and work ethic. It taught me so much. Many people think they have the greatest mom in the world.....but I know I do! Lol"

Brad has been so successful in his career. I asked him what advice he would give others, and he said, "My advice for folks out there based upon a few things I learned from my mom...and others along the way. One, live everyday to its fullest. Leave nothing in the tank. Whatever you are going through... someone else has had a tougher experience. Rise up. Two, if you are going to be involved in something, be all in. Three, understand that adversity is going to happen. It's part of life. How you deal with the adversity is what makes you."

We all had somebody that uplifted us and changed our trajectory in life, whether it was a parent, teacher, coach, pastor, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, or just a friend. For Brad, it was his mother, who sounds like an amazing woman.

I hope you enjoyed the story. Have a great day.