2010 boys' hoops coach of year: Brad Randall

SOLON - There was a faction that wanted Brad Randall gone. The lifelong Solonite wasn't winning enough basketball games.

“To be quite honest, about seven years ago there was a group of parents that wanted me out,” Randall said last week.

But the coach received the support of Solon's administration and kept his job. You don't hear much complaining now.

Solon has made the state tournament four of the last five years, including a Class 2A state championship in 2009. Despite a completely new cast, the Spartans finished second this season, losing the 2A title game last weekend to Western Christian.

Quite a season. Quite a run.

“Very, very satisfying,” said Randall, who played at Solon and has been a head or assistant coach there for 25 years. “We had a group of kids who epitomized selflessness. They did things the old-fashioned way. They played defense, battled teams on the boards who were bigger than they were. And we had different guys throughout the season that led us in scoring.”

Randall is the KCRG/Gazette Communications boys' basketball coach of the year for helping orchestrate another magical winter. Like any good coach, he thanked to his players and his staff: Paul Sleeper, Marc Foster, Chris Knight, A.J. Goldsmith and Acie Earl.

But don't underestimate his contributions. Solon went 25-3, winning the Wamac Conference championship despite having 90 percent of its scoring graduate.

Somehow Randall put all the new pieces together correctly. This truly was a “team,” one whose leading scorer (Tanner Wentzien) averaged just 13 points a game, with no one else in double figures.

“This year was very special with what I call our Miami Dolphins, no-name bunch,” said Randall, one win shy of 300 for his career. “Coaching awards, guys with great coaching reputations, are made by great players, particularly players that are coachable. That's a rare combination to find these days.”