After 7 seasons as the boys' JV basketball coach at Hemlock, Coach Lyvere has decided to make a change in his coaching title. Effective immediately, Tony will resign his position as the JV Coach and will become a varsity assistant for next season.
I would like to personally thank Coach Lyvere for all of his work developing young men on the JV level. During his 7 seasons as the Junior Varsity coach, Coach Lyvere won 93 games to only 40 defeats for a 70% winning percentage. Included in these wins were two consecutive undefeated teams. During his tenure, he is estimated to have coached 85 Hemlock student athletes. It has been very evident over those seasons that Coach Lyvere did much more than coach the finer points of playing the game of basketball to these boys. He affected their lives! Even as a young coach, it is very obvious that Coach Lyvere sees the bigger picture! He understands what athletics can do for a kid's development and he's willing to completely immerse himself in the job to help improve a young person's life.
I know that it will be difficult if not impossible to fill the big shoes that Tony leaves behind. At the same, I know I'm very excited to add Coach Lyvere to the varsity coaching staff. I have full confidence that he will be a huge asset in motivating and developing our varsity players of the future.
I asked Coach to tell me a couple of his fondest memories over his time as the JV coach. I think he had a difficult time with that question. He said that there are so many that it is hard to just choose a few! Nonetheless, he said that he has loved to see former players succeed at the next level in sports and life. He has also loved seeing the progress of the players throughout each season that he has coached. Finally, he points to all of the funny conversations with players and coaches over the seasons.
If any of you feel that Coach Lyvere has impacted your life and made you a better player, feel free to send him a congratulatory message or personally thank him the next time you cross paths.