Assistant men’s basketball coach Brian Fish says there is a philosophy behind his coaching. It comes from former UCLA coach and basketball icon John Wooden, who said, “What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.”
Fish takes that statement and tries to further it.
“Sports can teach [one] life skills,” Fish said. “You learn how to get yourself ready to compete with important things in life.”
On March 25, 2009, Fish will be honored alongside 16 other men as a part of the Indiana Men’s Silver Anniversary All-Star Team. Fish and the other men are receiving this honor because of their performance on their respective Indiana high school basketball teams at least 25 years ago.
Every March, the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inducts around 15 men into the Hall. Aside from inducting the class, they also honor another group of men who are at least 25 years separated from playing high school basketball in the state of Indiana and had a significant contribution to their high school teams.
Sharon Roberts, the Events Coordinator for the Hall, oversees the planning and execution of the Awards Ceremony.
“The players are introduced and receive a plaque for their outstanding ability shown at least 25 years ago,” she said.
At the March ceremony in Indianapolis, Ind., Fish will be a part of Indiana history as he is honored in the same ceremony as current and former NBA coaches and players such as San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
“[The ceremony] is the way Indiana celebrates its rich basketball heritage and tradition and brings together honorees past and present for a ceremony,” Roberts said.
Fish was taken aback with delight when the Hall contacted him regarding his nomination.
“It caught me by surprise,” he said. “I forgot it’s been 25 years since I played. I got a call about being nominated [to the Silver Anniversary team] and that was the first time I thought about it.”
Twenty-five years after Fish graduated from Seymour High School in Seymour, Ind., he still holds the school records for most charges taken (42), free throws attempted and free throws made (390). He also ranks second in career points scored with 1,400 all-time points. He is fourth on the list with 128 steals and 505 career field goals.
“You just look at those numbers and you just think, ‘wow,'” Fish said. “You just play the game and don’t really pay attention to the numbers.”
He will be the seventh graduate in Seymour High School history to be honored by the famous Indiana institution.
Fish cannot completely narrow down his most memorable moment from playing in high school.
“Just being able to play basketball in Indiana was neat,” he said. “Basketball is so important to the state, and it was awesome playing in front of big crowds at home and on the road wherever we went. Just being part of that and competing against good teams in a state where it really meant something was an honor.”