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Show a Ifii'i sti n i UiS'jcrJf ! 3 iU Snorts Feature Basketball Coach Builds Flawless Reputation Over Years Of Dedication Granite High School, where he earned honors and was recruited by Utah, Utah State, Brigham Youngand many other colleges. Although he comes from a Methodist background, Steinke chose BYU because he just liked the program the The Salt Lake Tribune characterized him as one of the most successful and popular coaches in the Intermountain area when he resigned in April 1976. At the same time, the Deseret News classified him as an outstanding coxh and a class best. . . person. S teinke overlooks the success and popu-larit- y he received while coxhing die Parsons. The greatest aspect of coaching is seeing the effect you have on others, Steinke said as he pulled a stack of letters from former players out of his desk. A lot oftimes it was a thankless job. I keep all the good. He got good kids and gave them the opportunity to better themselves, his son Brad said. He is still in close contact with many of his former players which is rare for college coaches. Most coxhes lose interest in their players once they are through playing. Brad is currently a sports caster at KSL and the host of All-Sta- te - In 1951, BYU, a small school at the time, gained national recognition by winning the National InvitationalToumament When Steinke joined the program three years later, the school had almost doubled field-houin enrollment, built a million-dolland was playing against some of the ' NCAAs toughest teams. We had great teams, most of the guys from the 51 championship team were still around and we played an excellent much better than they do toschedule day, Steinke said. . Steinke is modest and reserved about his numerous xcomplishments. Richard ar (shown here In 1959), hasn't changed. File photo It sounds like a script outof Hollywood. A young basketball coach takes over a small college program facing insurmountable odds. His adversity includes meager resources: a small student body, poor facilities (the team plays its home games at a nearby high school), insufficient funds (he sells advertising for the program) and the school even lxksabus for road trips; so the coach drives the team hundreds of miles to and from games in his own car, a 59 Edsel. . The coach puts together teams of players who arent accepted or fail to play at the NCAA Division One level. He recruits by telephone, rents apartments for African-Americplayers who are not yet accepted the community and his house is always by open for meals and accommodations for players who are financially strapped because the school offers only tuition waivers to its athletes. He is an optimist His philosophies on life are evident in his attitude and the numerous sayings that adorn his office. No person who is enthusiastic about his work has anything to fear, and They themselves, make themselves, account for a sample of the many quotes, sayings and efippings that fine his office walls and . desk. Ifis enthusiasm, attitude and determination rub off on his players, who although often create some of the greatest teams in the history of Utah college athletics. More important than three championships or being named Coxh of the Year four times in 10 years is that wily two of his players failed to graduate. That was the most important thing to me, he said. He told the Deseret News in 1971 that his main goal as a coach was, When I leave or ever quit coaching all I want people to say was that I was a winner. That will be enough." Westminster Athletic Director Tom Steinke was and still is a winner in more g ways than one. Basketball has been a him endeavor for and he has been characterized as a winner throughout his career. Steinkes baskctbaU cxeer started at S iCjh4- w.rv.'HAvV.S M tivA , , over-matche- d, life-lon- Page April 14,1992 -- Sportsbeat Saturday. According to Brad, Steinke was always there for his players. He provided less fortunate athletes with the essentials along with health and dental care. He also helped A athletes with other expenses. lot of lives were enriched because of his position there, Brad said. Every year, he would take his team up to the Shriners Hospital For Children and help unload tons of food from incoming vans. After the work was done, they would take a tour and see all of the children with all kinds of serious problems. I think it made them the players thankful for what they had. Steinke left the team for numerous reasons but most importantly , in his son Brads estimation, was to be with the family and enjoy watching his two children compete in high school athletics. When he stepped down, it coincided with the beginning of my high school career, Brad said. He stepped aside for me and made some sacrifices which I find very game, the highest scoring average of any player in BYU history at the time. Steinke ranked 60th in the nation in scoring and ninth in free throw percentage, shooting almost 85 percent from the line. He was named the Skyline Conference Player of the Year in 57; received honors Team for playon the Small ers 5 feet 10 inches and smaller, was listed among the top 10 college basketball players on the Helm Foundation team (alist that included Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor) and he played in the All-Americ- an , an se Brockmyer, Wes tminstcrsdircctor ofplant and facilities and long-tim- e colleague of Steinke, said,I know he played at BYU and I think he was really good. He doesnt talk about it much. In 1957, number 23 led the Skyline Conference in scoring with 19.7 points per by Christopher Thomas Forum staff writer - , -- All-Americ- an East-We- st all-st- ar game. After graduation and six months of military duty, Steinke went professional Truckers playing for the Denver-Chicag- o of the old N1BL (National Industrial Bas- ketball League, a forerunner of the ABA), He played two years, including 1959 when the Truckers won the NIBL championship, before returning to BYU to work on his masters degree and coxh freshman bas-- admirable. Steinke said that it wasnt just Brads athletic cxeer. Brad was playing and I wanted to get the opportunity to see him, plus I felt that I had taken the program as far as it could go. We either won it or took second place every y ex. . After resigning as basketball coxh, Steinke continued work with the police academy, where he has been the physical . ketball Part of the reason Steinke returned to BYU was to coach his younger brother Ron, who was on the freshman team. Several years later, Ron followed in his . brothers footsteps, coaching high school basketball. Steinke earned his masters degrees in guidance counseling and biology jn 1960. He coxhed five years of high school basketball in Colorado before taking the Westminster coaching position in 1966. When Steinke retired from the D-- C Truckers in September 1959, Head Coach - Johnny Dee characterized him as fine young man, and said he is excellent coaching material. Under Steinkes direction, the Parsons won the RMAC championship three times and advanced to the NAIA regional playoffs where they lost twice to die eventual national champion. He coached lOyears at Westminster, winning over 60 percent of his games and gaining a prestigious activities instructor for 18 years. . Ive had theoppratunity togettoknowalmostevery policeman that has come through the state of Utah, he said. For example, he and Clyde Palmer, an xademy staff member, began running together in 1978 and now Steinke estimates he runs 1500 miles per yex. r Its a catchable disease and it wasnt long before the staff began running 2 miles a whack. Then it went up to three, then six, then 10 and then one day we ran from the college to my house in Sandy, Palmer told the DeseretNews in July 1978, when he and Steinke were preparing for their first mxathon. Steinke and Palmer, along with 12 other policemen, ran the Deseret News Marathon later that month. Since 1978, Steinke has finished five other marathons. Today, he runs new recruits twice a day, three times a week. The new gym at the police academy is named after him. Steinke is still an xtive participant and studentof basketball. He teaches a basketball class on campus, and even though he is twice the age of many of his students, he is one of the first ones up and down the court. Ive enjoyed my stay here even right now its not work for me, he said. Steinke has been around basketball so long (hat his colorful and often comical observations and jxgon xe appealing to the most novice of sports connoisseurs. After losing a pick-u- p basketball game in one of his classes, he said, Those guys wouldnt give up the ball if I were sitting above the basket and then all of the sudden everything erupted like Hollywood Boule-vx- d they were driving the lane as if Bob Barker had said come on down. ' Steinke has also been a color analyst of BYU games on KB YU for the past 10 yexs. The greatest thing is to be there and be able to analyze and critique it There is nothing like college basketball with the excitement of big games with everything on the line, he said. Brad was playing college basketball and studying broadcast journalism when Steinke started at KB YU. I was studying while Dad was doing it I was jealous, but it was nice to have him in the field, said ' Brad. Steinke said, Youve got to be a good student of the feame arid be around it a lot just to analyze what is going on. I think they asked me to do it color commentary because they wanted my insight TheUtah Jazz have also been interested in Steinkes insight and have used his knowledge in several positions. Igotoall of the games and figure out what is working and what isnt It isnt scouting. I have done scouting before forthem.but its a lot fun for me, he said. Basketball may appex to be the most important aspect of Steinkes life, however his family has always ranked first Brad said, I can never repay him for all . of the hours he spent with me in the gym. We must have shot a million shots together. It didnt matter what it was, he always put the family first and I really admire him for itbecause people these days dont. ' Steinke had many offers to coxh at lxger schools butdidntwanttodisruptthe family by moving and working more. I always felt bad because he had an opportunity to go to BYU as an assistant but turned down the job for the family. I must have been in ninth or 10th grade and justbeginning while my sister was actively involved with gymnastics and I guess he didnt want us to struggle with a, major transition, Brad said. - Steinkes life could only be adequately illustrated on the silver screen. Throughout his cxeer, uncompromising values, optimism, dedication, hxd work and a zest for life have propelled him into the winners circle. - - |