LaRicca still believes in teaching fundamentals

By Greg Gulas

The former boys basketball coach in Warren is now working with youths.

BOARDMAN — Bob LaRicca was one of the most successful boys basketball coaches for nearly three decades until his retirement.

The respected LaRicca posted a 296-103 record as coach at Western Reserve and Warren Harding, earning Ohio Class AAA Coach of the Year honors in 1983 and directed Reserve to the 1989 state tournament.

With 11 league championships, six district titles and three regional finals to his credit, his credibility has never been questioned.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, LaRicca, describing what he feels has been too many years away from teaching the game, was looking forward to his new assignment as director of basketball operations at the newly opened Niles Wellness Center.

“Tonight, 25 male and female basketball hopefuls will come in for lessons that will last a little over an hour in length,” he said. “Down the road, hopefully we’ll run some AAU teams out of the facility but for right now, I’m just looking forward to the challenge of getting back on the court and working with the kids,” he said.

LaRicca noted that some things have changed over the years, but being fundamentally sound still wins games.

“The one thing that has changed over the years though has been the ball handling. Players today are able to dribble through their legs, behind their back and what they do today is good — if they are going forward or diagonal. If they are standing still, then that’s not a good idea.

“I watched Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets for about 10 minutes the other night and I cannot tell you how impressed I was with his play,” he said.

LaRicca credits the late “Pistol Pete” Maravich with how ball handling has changed the game.

“It was around 1968 and I was watching Pete on television from my fraternity house at YSU. He was the first great ball handler and when he passed the ball through his legs so effortlessly, I was amazed and asked everyone in the room if they had just seen what I did.

“Of course they didn’t because at that time there was no instant replay. All I knew was Pete was special and nothing short of amazing,” LaRicca added.

LaRicca has been asked more times than he cares to remember about the difference with today’s game.

“The other day Kalida’s Dick Kortokrax, who is 75 years old and the OHSAA’s winningest coach, coached his last game. Administration said they wanted to move in a different direction.

“Sometimes administration needs to just take a stand and leave a coach alone,” he noted.

LaRicca credits Alan Burns, the former Boardman coach, as one of the most influential persons in his coaching career.

“Alan started the summer day camps and allowed me to be a part of the program. He had guys like the late Tony Archibald from Poland and Tim Grgurich, who is still an assistant on the professional level, as instructors so I had a chance to learn from some of the best.

“John Lawhorn arrived at Western Reserve in 1976 and he taught me organization. The longer you coach the less you actually coach because you become more concerned about teaching the fundamentals.

“You need to teach in order for your plays to work,” he said.

Next week, NABC Inter-Continental Middleweight Title holder Billy Lyell will be the speaker.

On April 5, the organization’s all-league high school boys and girls basketball recognition banquet will take place at the Georgetown at 6:30 p.m. Jim Evans of Clear Channel Radio will serve as speaker.