LAUREL HILL — Kent Zessin is stepping down as Laurel Hill School’s boys basketball coach.
Zessin’s announcement comes after 13 years, 257 wins, four district titles and six playoff appearances.
The longtime educator — who will remain as LHS’s volleyball coach and athletic director — led the Hoboes to district championships in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007. He also led LHS to the playoffs in 2008 and 2009.
Zessin finishes with an overall record of 257-109 and a .702 winning percentage.
“Basically, I’m having some health issues,” said Zessin, who had a stroke in 2007. “I’m stepping back at Laurel Hill School so I can spend more time with my family.”
Zessin coached his son, Tyler, in basketball and his daughter, Bridget, in volleyball. Both his children are in college now, and he wants to spend more time with them before they marry and have their own children, he said.
Still, “I’ll miss the game the most when the ball is in the air for the tipoff,” Zessin said. “I’m going to miss it when kids figure out how things work.
“I’m not going to miss practices or the long bus rides. I traveled about 150,000 miles on school buses. I won’t miss the late nights.”
The search for his replacement likely will involve seeing if there will be faculty openings at the end of the current school year, and who might be available, Zessin said.
He said the school will look for an experienced coach who is a proven leader.
Zessin summed up his departure from basketball with a famous line from a Tom Hanks movie.
“It’s kind of like the quote from “Forrest Gump:” ‘I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.’”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LHS basketball coach steps down, spending more time with family