Bruns resigns position as Fort Recovery boys coach

FORT RECOVERY — An era of Fort Recovery boys basketball is over.

Joe Bruns submitted his resignation as the school’s boys basketball coach last week. The school board was notified at its meeting Tuesday night, but did not need to take action because all FRHS coaches are under one-year contracts.

Bruns will remain in the school system as a high school math teacher.

“Basically it just came down to the point where I kind of had a little burnout,” Bruns said in an interview this morning. “You put seven years being a head coach and 11 years coaching basketball — and I have three kids at home who are young — and I thought it was just a good time to step aside and spend some time with my children and my wife.”

“I’m just sorry to see him go,” said FRHS athletics director Barb Sautbine of the third winningest coach in school history. “He’s been a great guy to work with.”

Bruns said he knew prior to the 2002-2003 season that it would likely be his last year. He took some time after the conclusion of the season to make sure before presenting his decision to the administration.

“It was a great exprience. The last couple of years it was just getting to a point where it was very time consuming.”

Fort Recovery will begin its search for a new coach. It has not yet set any criteria for a new coach, but would like to have someone in place by mid-to-late summer.

Bruns took over the Indians’ program for the 1996-97 season and finished the year at 5-17. Over the next two seasons Fort Recovery went 39-9, winning the Midwest Athletic Conference, sectional, district and regional championships in 1999.

They were the state runners-up that season with a record of 25-2.

In his final season, the Indians went 10-12, losing in the sectional championship game to eventual state champion and MAC-rival Marion Local. His career record with the Indians was 86-71 for a .548 winning percentage.

“We certainly appreciate the work that Joe did here,” said FRHS principal Ed Snyder. “He’s been a valuable member of that basketball staff. He certainly worked very hard to run that program for us.”

Bruns said he looks back at the 1999 MAC championship as one of his most rewarding moments as the head coach at Fort Recovery.

“That definitely was just a tremendous year,” Bruns said. “Winning the MAC, I think cutting that first net down (at home) was one of the really great feelings. When I took over this program we defintiely struggled going 5-17 and 0-8 in league.”

“That was just very gratifying, not only for myself, but for the kids who played that first year when we were 0-8.”

“I’m going to miss the kids at Fort Recovery,” said Bruns, who also did not rule out the possibilty of coaching again in the future. “I always feel like they’ve worked very hard and played hard every game whether win or lose. That work ethic is just priceless.”[[In-content Ad]]