Area coaches net state honors

Charlie Sorrells - Sentinel Sports Editor
Integrity, dedication and humility are three characteristics that all truly great coaches possess.

In fact, the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Assoc-iation and the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Assoc-iation each search throughout the state on an annual basis to find the epitome of outstanding prep mentors.

Both associations recently notified three area coaches that they were the recipients of the yearly state awards, yet none of the mentors uttered a word to the public due to their humble personalities.

Granada-Huntley-East Chain boys basketball mentor Robbin Celander was named the Minnesota Class 1A Coach of the Year during the final week of March, while Fairmont’s Rod Heinrich was tabbed as one of the state’s top four assistants for the 2007-08 campaign.

The previous week, the girls association selected GHEC’s Brian Petrowiak as the No. 1 assistant in Class 1A in Minnesota for the recently-completed hoops season.

“It’s a nice feeling to have earned the respect of your peers,” said Petrowiak, who also captured the distinguished honor in 2003-04. “(GHEC head coach) Rick (Uttech) told me about it (award) a few days after the girls state tournament.”

Uttech, who netted Class 1A Coach of the Year accolades in 2006-07 and Section 2A honors this season, and Petrowiak guided the Mustangs to an undefeated regular-season record, the Valley Conference championship, the league tournament crown, a regular spot in the Associated Press’ state rankings, an appearance in the sectional finals and a 25-1 overall mark.

“Robbin put it all in perspective perfectly – our two basketball programs combined for a 50-4 record. Not too many high schools in the state can make that statement,” said Petrowiak.

“We (boys program) have a great working relationship with Rick and Brian,” said Celander, whose Mustangs produced a 25-3 overall record this season. “The two coaching staffs always figured out a way to make our practice times in the gym work out, especially during the latter part of the season.

“It’s great to have that kind of support and respect for one another.”

While Celander and assistant coach Dave Nawrocki engineered the Mustangs’ regular top-10 appearances in the weekly state rankings and the program’s first-ever appearance in the state tournament, Heinrich played an integral role in helping the Cardinals reach the sectional championship game for the first time in 17 years.

Heinrich, a former head boys basketball coach at Fairmont, serves as the red-and-white’s B-squad mentor within head coach Ray Hassing’s system.

Hassing and Heinrich, along with assistants Russ Laue and Jared Thompson, engineered the Cardinals’ fourth consecutive South Central Conference crown, the most playoff victories since 1991 and a 17-10 overall record this campaign.

“I was told by an official once that good assistant coaches are to be seen and not heard,” joked Heinrich. “No, really, you do what you’re asked to do as an assistant. I thought our B-squad improved every week and we were playing well at the end of the year. Hopefully, I got them ready for next year and only time will tell that.

“The varsity had a great season this year, and it was fun to be along for the ride.”

Heinrich not only earned a front-row seat to watch youngest son Justin – a 6-foot-4 sophomore – develop into one of Fairmont’s starting varsity guards this season, but also had the opportunity to coach his oldest son, Jeff, nearly a decade ago.

“That’s the special part about the job - you get to spend quality time with your kids,” Petrowiak said in reference to graduated guard Jessica, current senior guard Sara and freshman forward Megan.

But the family connection does not stop there as Celander had the chance to coach his nephew – 6-5 senior center Jake Shoen – during the past three seasons at the varsity level.

“You never plan anything like this,” Celander said in reference to winning the award. “You accept a coaching job to try to help give all kids an opportunity to succeed.

“ ... The award is not a reflection of me, but a reflection of our program, the players and the people who work with me.”

“You definitely don’t do it for the money, you do it because you enjoy watching kids improve and for the love of the sport,” said Petrowiak.

In addition to Uttech’s winning the Section 2A girls basketball coach of the year, Blue Earth Area’s Al Cue was chosen as the MGBCA’s top mentor in Section 2AA.

In his first official season as sole head coach of the Bucs, Cue guided his girls cagers to an outright South Central Conference championship and impressive 24-3 overall record.

All five area basketball coaches will officially be recognized for their accomplishments at the Minnesota prep coaches’ clinic during the last weekend in October.