Kreischer tabbed to replace Steve Gray

NORWALK — As the years continued to pass, the familiar and internal "tug" never went away. Whether it was as a random fill-in for a high school basketball practice over winter break, or attending high school and coaching youth games — Adam Kreischer was never fully removed from the game of basketball. And if the right situation ever came around, the elementary principal for over a decade knew what he wanted. ""Even though I've been in the principal's role, I never lost my passion for basketball or my passion for coaching," Kreischer said. "Wanting to teach young kids, that has never gone away. But I was in a situation where if I was going to coach again, I wanted it to be own program." Now, Kreischer takes over for the coach that was the reason he landed in Norwalk 21 years ago to begin with. Pending approval by the board of education at its May 17 meeting, Kreischer is the new Norwalk High School boys basketball varsity head coach. The principal at League Elementary in Norwalk, Kreischer takes over for Steve Gray, the all-time wins leader (312) at the school who spent the past 21 years helping rewrite the program's record book. Kreischer is a 1997 Lexington High School graduate, where he played for Gray prior to his arrival at Norwalk for the 2001-02 season. "We came up to Norwalk 21 years ago, and Steve is who brought me up here to coach with him," Kreischer said. "My wife (Heather) and I fell in love with this community and didn't want to leave. "I love my principal's position at League, and I looking forward to the opportunity to lead the program." Norwalk High School athletic director Josh Schlotterer described Kreischer as a basketball junkie. "He loves the sport and being around it, and that trickles down to the kids that he coaches," Schlotterer said. "It's a very contagious feeling. That passion along with Adam's knowledge and relationships he builds with everyone he's around will be a great thing for our program." When Gray first arrived at Norwalk, Adam Kreischer was his varsity assistant. His older brother, Marc, was the junior varsity coach. After two seasons, Marc left for a head coaching job at South Webster in southeastern Ohio, where he later coached the Jeeps to a Division IV state championship in 2006. Adam then spent two years as the JV head coach under Gray before taking over as the head varsity coach at South Central. While coaching the Trojans, Kreischer's teams were 23-19 in two seasons from 2006-07. After returning to Norwalk, Kreischer did another two years as the varsity assistant, but then the University of Rio Grande graduate began the process of getting his Master's degree in Administration. However, during that process, Kreischer did coach the Norwalk Middle School eighth grade team for a couple years at the perfect time. He coached Ben Haraway, Jeff Thomas, Grant Hull and Jordan Johnson among others — a group that later went 91-9 over four years in high school, capped off by winning the Div. II state title in 2014. "It was like coaching a varsity high school team in junior high," Kreischer joked. At the board meeting this month, Norwalk Superintendent Brad Cooley is expected to recommend to rescind the policy that was added in 2012 that states administrators cannot hold coaching positions in the school district. "It was something we talked through extensively, including my wife and I before even applying," Kreischer said. "If anything, I think it will make me a better principal." On the court, Kreischer will return two starters and three rotation players off the bench from a team that went 13-12 overall and won a sectional championship. "What you'd like to do sometimes doesn't match up with your personnel," Kreischer said. "But in this case, I think it will. I think we can get up and down the floor and be a bit more uptempo. "I envision us being a little more full-court, and I really like the kids and the talent coming back," he added. "I'm excited to get to work with those guys and see what we will we accomplish next year." Kreischer said in his years playing and coaching under Gray, he's learned that while he may handle or do something differently, the core beliefs remain the same. "Which is your kids doing things the right way on and off the court," Kreischer said. "We want them representing Norwalk City Schools, their family and basketball program the right way at all times. More than anything, that's what I have probably picked up on as a coach under Steve. In that regard, our expectations are the same." Once Kreischer gets officially hired, he anticipates longtime assistant and NHS graduate Wes Sellers — the current boys soccer coach at Norwalk — to slide into the lead varsity assistant role. Kyle Brubaker is expected to return as the JV coach. Kreischer is not concerned about being out of coaching in an official capacity for 11-plus years. He was never completely away from the sport or the Norwalk program. "I'd go in over break when Steve would have a group of us go against the current team," Kreischer said. "Even then you're building relationships, talking to the kids about things you see. I was still attending a lot of the games and going to the state tournament most years, and I've scouted for different people through the time off." Kreischer noted he still talks with his brother about coaching, as well as area coaches such as Chris Sheldon at Western Reserve and Joe Bedingfield at Willard. Bedingfield was Kreischer's JV coach at South Central. Kreischer has also coached his son's AAU teams as well as some high school level AAU teams as well. "I'm not worried about (the time off) and feel I'm good at building relationships with kids," Kreischer said. "I know game well enough. In the 12 years or so the game has changed some, but I haven't been completely away from it and have stayed up on those changes as well. "I'm pretty comfortable with what I'm getting myself into, and very comfortable with my assistant coaches as we get this going." Schlotterer agreed with that assessment. The AD noted that while many kids in the district today associate him as the principal at League, he's also still been a regular around the basketball program. "He's stayed very active in our youth programs, and has been very visible behind the bench at our high school games," he said. "Though not in an official capacity, Adam has been a consistent presence in the Norwalk program." Adam and Heather Kreischer have two children. Their son, Kian, is 12 and in the sixth grade at Main Street School. Daughter, Kya, is 10 and in the fourth grade at League. "I'm thrilled for this opportunity, and am very thankful the school and administration showed confidence and faith in me," Kreischer said. "We're really going to focus on connecting our youth and building this thing up to the high school kids. "As a staff and program, our goal will be to build a program from elementary through high school that will allow Norwalk basketball to be a consistent winner."