Hall of Famer Hegemier returning to coach St. Marys

ST. MARYS - Coach Dan Hegemier won more than 500 basketball games before retiring in 2015.

The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame member isn't done yet.

On Wednesday, Hegemier's return to St. Marys was made official as he was approved to become the new coach during the St. Marys City Schools Board of Education meeting.

"I helped my brother (New Knoxville girls basketball coach Tim Hegemier) out the last couple of years, just going into practice, and I had a lot of fun doing it," the veteran coach said during a Wednesday phone interview. "Then when the job did open here, all the kids coming back, the seniors, came to my house and asked me to coach again. That's never happened to me before, and I felt very honored about it. So I just said 'Well, we'll try it again.' I talked to my old staff. They all said they're ready to go."

Hegemier takes over the program following Craig Szymcazk's resignation. Szymcazk was 26-65 and 10-26 in the Western Buckeye League during his four years with St. Marys.

In 2015, Hegemier retired after guiding St. Marys to the Division II district tournament and a 16-9 record, the program's best win total since 2006-2007. Hegemier's 33-year career also included stints at Waynesfield-Goshen, Spencerville, Fort Loramie and his alma mater, New Knoxville.

Hegemier has a career record of 524-248, is one of 13 coaches to win three state titles and one of eight boys coaches to win titles at two schools. Hegemier-coached teams have amassed 14 league titles, 16 sectional, 11 district and four regional crowns. He earned Associated Press Coach of the Year honors in 1993, 2007 and 2008, was named the Ohio Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2007 and won the same award four times in District 8 and three times in District 9.

Also on Wednesday, Hegemier's former assistant, Tony Arling, was approved by the board.

"We're really excited about it," Hegemier said. "We think we have something to offer the kids. They seemed really excited today when I talked to them."

Last season, the Roughriders finished 6-15 and 2-7 in WBL play. Hegemier likes the nucleus of returning players. The key will be what happens this offseason, he said.

"The main goal is to get them into the gym during the offseason," he said. "This is a football town. It's always been a football town. They've had great success in football, great success in soccer and baseball. We just need to get our guys who are going to play out on the court in the offseason. Because if you don't play in the offseason, it's pretty tough. That's the thing they've got to do and they fully understand.

"I saw them play just a few times last year, he added. "I think they have an opportunity to win."