43
Former Mathews AD Bob Rozycki remembered
Long-time teacher,
coach, AD dies at 72
By Greg Gulas
VIENNA
Bob Rozycki was known as an organized, hands-on athletic director who spent 49 years in education, all but five with the Mathews School District.
Rozycki, 72, died last Thursday.
Former Mathews baseball head coach Dan Kennedy — now an assistant with the Mustangs — recalls a story that highlights Rozycki’s dedication to his sports programs, athletes and coaches.
“Before a big game against Grand Valley, one of our bats was broken and he took it upon himself to head over to Dick’s Sporting Goods to get a replacement, getting it back to us in time for the start of the game,” Kennedy said. “We won the game, yet I’m not so sure how many other athletic directors would have done that in such a timely fashion.”
Kennedy remembers Rozycki as a caring teacher, administrator and coach who always went the extra mile for the programs he oversaw and students he taught.
“He looked like he was grouchy, but it was actually the complete opposite with Bob,” Kennedy said. “He was kind, cared about his students and all the Mustangs’ teams. Spring sports can be a scheduling nightmare because of the weather, but he always made sure that we played our 16-22 games some way, somehow.”
Mike Miller is a 1971 MHS graduate who spent 35 years as a social studies teacher at his alma mater. He also coached golf and volleyball.
“As an athletic director, Bob treated the so-called minor sports extremely well. He wasn’t just concerned with football or basketball, he cared about all sports programs,” Miller said. “He was the kind of guy who didn’t have any hobbies because he dedicated his life to Mathews High School.
“As an athletic director he was meticulous, punctual and you had to have all of the proper forms in on time. He was an excellent AD who was most passionate about his job.”
Current boys basketball coach Michael Weymer is a 2001 Mathews graduate who played his freshman and sophomore seasons under Rozycki.
“Coach was the fabric of our community,” Weymer said. “He taught junior high mathematics, you played for him and he came to your graduation party. You saw him at a restaurant, at the gas station and sometimes a couple of times over the course of the day if you were out and about like he was.
“About 10 years ago, I had the opportunity to go elsewhere and since he had already done so, he was the first person that I called for some advice. You could bounce ideas off him and he encouraged me to go with the opportunity because I’d be a better coach for it and stronger if I returned. Boy, was he right.
“He literally lived a 7-iron around the corner from the school and I was always amazed at how many people he knew. He was always accessible, wanting to know how you were doing when he ran into you. He truly cared about what was going on in your life.”
Vic Binben joined Rozycki on Ron McCleary’s basketball staff at Howland High School in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“He was great with all the kids. He’d walk down the hallway, talk to all the boys and girls and was genuinely concerned for all of them,” Binben said. “He wanted to make sure everything was all right. Also, he was the most organized athletic director that I have ever known.”
Former Mustangs football coaches Bob Terlecky and Bob “Whitey” Woytek called Rozycki an excellent athletic director.
“Bob was a caring teacher and athletic director, someone who made sure all Mathews sports teams were treated fairly,” Terlecky said.
Said Woytek: “I appreciated the fact that he supported my football program and all of our other programs. He was always there for the kids.”
Jim Stitt is a McDonald High graduate who played against Mathews when Rozycki was coaching basketball. He later coached with Rozycki at Howland.
“He was an excellent teacher of the game, someone who could really teach the fundamentals,” Stitt said. “When I took over as Mathews principal, he was one of the first to greet me in my office and he helped make my transition smooth and a lot easier.”