Comer retiring

After more than 200 wins in two stints, the most successful girls basketball coach in Patriot history is stepping aside.

Kirk Comer announced his retirement from the Jay County High School girls basketball program Wednesday evening, breaking the news to his players during an open gym.

He explained later that his work responsibilities necessitated the move. His new role as regional sales manager for BSN Sports — he covers northern Indiana — had already required him to miss practices as well as three games during the 2022-23 season.

“It was going to be that again this year and maybe more. And I just didn’t think it was fair to the kids and the school and our program,” said Comer. “I put a lot on my assistants. At times, they were doing my job.

“When it got to the point where I felt like I couldn’t give everything I have, which I don’t think I can moving forward in the position I’m in right now … I always said that whenever that time came it was time to get out. Unfortunately, that’s where we’re at.”

Comer ranks 24th all-time and ninth among active coaches for career wins in Indiana girls basketball with 408. More than half of those have come at Jay County has he has compiled a 221-80 record with the Patriots.

“His coaching record speaks for itself,” said JCHS athletics director Steve Boozier. “And then anybody who is near our program or pays any attention to our program knows what a positive influence he is on kids.

“He truly cares about the kids first. People give that lip service, but that’s truly the way he operates and believes.

“He has a way of teaching kids the game. Kirk Comer understands kids better than any non-educator I’ve ever been around.”

Boozier said he will meet with other school administrators to develop a plan to search for a new coach.

Comer has been the Patriots’ new coach twice, first taking the job in 2005 after stints at Daleville, Union and Union City. He led JCHS for five seasons, with a sectional championship in 2006 and an undefeated regular season in 2008-09.

He left in 2010 and won back-to-back regional titles at Winchester (his alma mater) before shifting to boys basketball — he coached at Union City — and then returned to the girls game for one year at Monroe Central before returning to Jay County in 2016. During his eight-year run he put together a 144-49 record, including 62-10 over the last three seasons.

But it wasn’t any of those wins that he mentioned when looking back at favorite memories. He gave a simple, two-word answer.

“The kids.”

“We just have great kids,” he continued. “The kids are outstanding.”

And as much as he enjoys being on the sidelines, he said he would miss practice the most, recalling interactions with his players from the court to the coach’s office.

“Right now I’ve got mixed emotions,” he added. “I’m really sad.

“That makes me sad right now to think I’m probably never going to be in that position again.”

Comer’s coaching career has also included a year as Jay County’s softball coach and a year as an assistant football coach at Winchester.

Though he referred to his departure as a retirement, he didn’t completely set aside the possibility of returning to the bench at sometime in the future.

“I love to coach,” he said. “I love the kids. You never say never. But with my position, I just don’t see where it’s going to allow me to do that in the future. Time will tell.”