Sports
Longtime basketball coach Paul Eberhardt (right) is congratulated by fellow hoops coach Jon Acob after receiving the Coaching Award of Excellence from the Richmond Secondary Schools Athletics Association at its annual banquet June 27.
Photo by Don Fennell
Richmond schools honour coaching excellence
Ken Black sat quietly in the rotunda at
Burnett Secondary School, overwhelmed by the memories of a 30-year coaching
career that’s come to an end.
Honoured June 27 at the Richmond Secondary
Schools Athletics Association’s coaches banquet with the prestigious Bill
Goodman Memorial Award for coaching excellence, Black is quickly reminded of
the countless hours he dedicated to help students realize their athletic
aspirations.
Whether it was coaching volleyball or track
and field, he challenged his athletes to be the best they could be.
“Win because you can” was his motto.
Also retiring from his career as a science
teacher, Black continually demonstrated the qualities embodied by the man for
whom the Bill Goodman Memorial Award is named—unselfishness, a caring
demeanour, dedication, and a recognizable motivation to instil in athletes the
principles of sportsmanship, fair play and the pursuit of excellence.
Bill Riach was also given a special
recognition award for his 30-plus years of coaching, which has included
coaching multiple teams during the same season.
“He simply doesn’t believe in cutting kids,”
Burnett vice-principal John Blair said of Riach, who is retiring from teaching
but will retain his coaching hat.
Trish Nicholson was the third individual to
be honoured for coaching 30 years in the Richmond School District. The longtime
McRoberts teacher and coach is much-respected and much-decorated throughout the
sports community for her numerous contributions and successes.
Last, but not least, longtime basketball
coach Paul Eberhardt added yet another honour to his ever-expanding trophy
case, too. The Palmer senior boys’ basketball coach was presented with the
Richmond Secondary Schools Athletics Association’s Outstanding Coaching
Achievement Award.
The colourful and passionate Eberhardt was
taken aback by the award, presented by his longtime friend and coaching
colleague Jon Acob. Acob’s first foray into coaching basketball was as
Eberhardt’s assistant coach.
A teacher at, and head coach of Palmer’s
senior boys’ basketball team, since 2005, Eberhardt guided the Griffins to the
B.C. AAA championship in 2011. Former president of Basketball BC, he is also
the longtime coach of the Langara Falcons and coached the college’s men’s team
to a national title in 2014.
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