Meadowdale’s McGuire steps down

Published 12:01 am Thursday, April 28, 2011

For 15 years Chad McGuire has walked the halls of Meadowdale High School and turned his head when student athletes called out, “Hey, coach.”

After his recent announcement to step down as head varsity boys basketball coach, he’ll have to settle for, “Hey, Mr. McGuire.”

Spending more time with his kids, 4-year-old Colin and 2-year-old Katie, is the primary reason he is stepping away. But McGuire admitted it is also that he was just burned out.

“Being a varsity coach in basketball or football for that matter is pretty demanding,” McGuire said. “I’ve been doing it for nine years and I’m just burned out to be honest with you.”

During his nine years at the helm of the varsity, Meadowdale reached heights it had never seen, even stepping out of the long shadow of the perennial powerhouse girls team.

His Mavericks went to state five of his nine years, placing four times, including a special run to fifth place in 2010 that stands as the highest finish in school history. Prior to his arrival the Meadowdale boys made the state tournament just once in 1978.

He coached stars like Conner Hamlett and Sam Werner on the 2010 team but McGuire shied away from pointing out any favorite players over the years. Instead he points to his favorite coaching memory.

Jacob Spade tried out for the varsity every year and every year he just missed it until 2010, when the staff decided he had earned a spot.

“He was really close every year,” McGuire said. “He just didn’t make it, but he kept trying and trying and trying.

“His senior year we kept him on varsity. It wasn’t a charity thing … he actually earned a spot on the team. It’s something that I’ll remember forever.”

McGuire felt that stories like Spade’s show why he feels working with young men is so fulfilling. He also humbly said the program success was due to the great talent that he got to coach rather than himself.

“I was lucky that Meadowdale is one of the best jobs in the state,” he said. “I was fortunate to be there when a good run of talent came through and I enjoyed coaching them all. I really did.”

No story about his time there would be complete without recognition of his staff and head assistant Dean Wiley, McGuire said. Outsiders may not have recognized the staff’s impact but McGuire sure did.

“A lot of our success goes to (Wiley) as well,” McGuire said. “I want to make sure he gets some credit it because we worked very well together.”

There is no word on McGuire’s replacement for the 2011-2012 season.

McGuire will continue to teach social studies at Meadowdale and he will be available in case anyone wants his opinion about the sport he loves. He’s just going to be heading straight home after school.

“I’m happy with my decision,” he said. “It’ll be hard. It’ll be strange come November, but I’m excited.”