 Coach Tim Gerken and Coach Don Kober. Coach Don Kober was a teacher and a coach at St. Francis de Sales High School for 35 years. During that time, his teams averaged 20 wins a year, resulting in a win-loss record of 660-251. Those victories included 15 City League championships and 11 City League titles. At the State level, Kober led the Knights to numerous Sectional, District, and Regional titles, and the Knights advanced to the State Final Four twice. He was elected to the Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002.
Kober and the Knights prepared for those successes with achallenging non-league schedule, in addition to competing in the toughCity League. Their “training” included an annual early-season trip toplay games in Florida to prepare for the competition of league andtournament play. Nearly 1,000 graduates have worn the Knight uniform during Kober’s33 years as Head coach and two years as assistant coach, with many ofthem continuing to play in college. John Locascio, Dennis McNamara,Chris Granata, Ryan Smith and Zach and Jeff McClellan were drafted byvarious major league teams. Kober is most proud of the many formerKnights who have turned their athletic success into personal andprofessional success. This includes former Knight player andcoach Jeff Mielcarek, the current coach at Central Catholic HighSchool. It also includes former player, long-time assistant, andcurrent Knight Head Coach Tim Gerken, whose work has been essential tothe success of the Knight program. The Pride and Tradition of St. Francis baseball has become anintegral part of the Knight athletic tradition. The support provided byFather Ron Olszewski and the entire Knight Family has been essential tothe continued development and success of the game. The construction andcontinued improvements to Kober Field and the entire baseball programexemplify this support. In addition to coaching baseball, Kober also served as both anassistant basketball coach for 15 years at St. Francis, and as anassistant to Coach Jim Robinson at Maumee High School and other highschools in the Toledo area for 20 years. Don grew up in Fairlawn, New Jersey, and graduated from HeidelbergCollege in Tiffin, Ohio. He played both football and baseball in highschool and college. He currently lives and teaches Advanced PlacementPsychology at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Hisrecently married daughter Kristine lives in Toledo. Written by Jim Tichy, Master of Ceremonies for the City League Hall of Fame induction. |
