New beginnings

Kirk Comer was so sure his coaching days were over that he gave away his whistle.

Comer's other valuable tools of the trade were gone as well. He no longer has a clipboard, his practice notes or playbook, having handed much of it over to Sherri McIntire, his former assistant at Jay County High School who is now the head coach of the girls basketball team.

With 406 career wins and six sectional championships under his belt over a span of 28 seasons, Comer has returned to the ranks, hoping to bring success to the Bishop Dwenger Saints girls program that hasn't won a sectional championship since 1999.

"I really thought I was done," explained Comer after announcing in April 2023 that he was resigning as the girls basketball coach because of job commitments. "I was surprised myself, but when the job (at Bishop Dwenger) became open it really intrigued me and I just kept thinking about it. It just seems like there is a great opportunity to maybe do something special at Dwenger. We're going to find out."

A 1983 Winchester graduate, Comer began his career in 1992 at Daleville and later at four different Randolph County schools before settling in at Jay County, where he coached for 14 years in two separate stints. He guided his teams to sectional titles at Union in 1998, four at Union City (2000-03) and two at Winchester (2010, 2011) and one at Jay County (2006).

Stepping down after the Patriots finished 23-2 in 2022-23, Comer left the program on solid footing as they racked up 22 wins in their first season under McIntire.

Bishop Dwenger finished 10-15 last year and hasn't finished with a winning record since 2018-19. The school is one of the largest three Catholic schools in the state with more than 1,000 students. Its schedule includes many 3A and 4A opponents, including several state-ranked teams including 2024 state runner-up Norwell.

"I'm hoping to take (the Dwenger) program over for five years, get things turned around and then turn it over to somebody who can keep it going," said Comer. "That's what I'd like to see happen."

At Bishop Dwenger, Comer enters unfamiliar territory. He will have all new assistant coaches, with all new players, playing in a different conference, in a different gymnasium.

"It's all new," Comer said. "But I feel this is an opportunity here. We've got 45 kids who came out, and I'm not used to that. There are 18 incoming kids who signed up. That's something new."

Comer said he is a big fan of Jay County basketball and enjoys attending the games and supporting what will always be his home town school.

"I figured it up and there are four or five games when there is a conflict in the schedules, so I'm still going to be getting to Jay County games and supporting them," Comer said.

Comer said it is the relationships with his players and people he has met through basketball that keeps him interested.

"I just enjoy the kids and meeting people," Comer says. 

"I've built a lot of friendships over the years that I cherish."