I was "team manager," (water boy) when he coached at Firth High School. His first gig was head coach of the Mighty Firth Cougars. He did both football and basketball. He also taught classes for which he was unqualified. He nearly blew up the school when they allowed him to teach chemistry one year. All he really knew was sports and the jocks that played them. He was masochistic to the enth degree. If he could make you suffer, he'd just relish the moment. If you were running laps and thew up, (I saw many that did-not me,) he'd be plain out jolly. Nothing like a pile of vomit in the middle of the running track....
He hated those of us that couldn't do the drills. He didn't like those of us that couldn't figure out that the hell he was talking about when he wanted us to run plays. We wanted to dodge balls. He wanted us to run patterns. That's all he wanted of anyone.
Here's the news piece I found. CLICK HERE
One of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Idaho history was killed this weekend.
Ron Kress was hit by a truck while chasing a loose cow on a highway near his family's ranch.
Kress coached 14 years at Highland High School and took the basketball team to two state championships. He also spent seven years teaching at Pocatello High School until he retired in 1993.
Don Cotant, Pocatello High School Principal: "I think the thing people will remember about Ron Kress is his enthusiasm for basketball. That was the love of his life."
Aa memorial service for Ron Kress will be held Wednesday at the LDS church in American Falls.
CLICK HERE
THIS IS NUTS! OR, I AM:
Think what you will of me, but, I'm thinking back on this fellow in only the worst of terms. Somday I'll tell you the terrible tale of my buddy Curly and the lifelong hell this "legend" unleashed on my former pal. No matter what they say, this "legend" deserved as much derision as adulation he's received. I'm not proud of those thoughts and responses. But, dang it, he was such a strong influence on my high school years, I can't let them slip by without honestly reflecting. He did very little good for me, even after all these years of retrospect. I could've been told that there was a future career in my field of expertise, (water boy,) even in the NFL. I was wrapping and treating sprains clear back when I was a sophomore in high school.
Nevertheless, this legendary Pocatello basketball coach never did anything to encourage me. He'd,in fact, throw things at me with intent of beaning me. Whew!
Good luck Ron Kress, from that water boy that you'd never, ever remember.
Now, tell me, why would I even dwell on this matter?
Sigh...
2 comments:
Coach Kress was the basketball coach at PHS while I was there and we drew endless pleasure from watching that little Napolean turn red in the face screaming at his players. We even joked about how funny it would be if in the middle of his enthusiasm his heart gave out and he keeled over dead on the court. A year or so after I graduated his heart did give out mid-game, but Kress had more fight in him and came back redder in the face than ever before. I haven't thought of him in years but my stomach did one of those jumps it does when you hear unexpected news.
Coach Kress was the basketball coach at PHS while I was there and we drew endless pleasure from watching that little Napolean turn red in the face screaming at his players. We even joked about how funny it would be if in the middle of his enthusiasm his heart gave out and he keeled over dead on the court. A year or so after I graduated his heart did give out mid-game, but Kress had more fight in him and came back redder in the face than ever before. I haven't thought of him in years but my stomach did one of those jumps it does when you hear unexpected news.
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