The Big Ben of WPIAL coaching is going to small ball.
Ben O'Connor, who at 6 feet 7 or so has to be one of the biggest coaches in the WPIAL, resigned today as Bethel Park's boys basketball coach.
O'Connor loves coaching. He loves Bethel Park. So why walk away from something he loves? His family.
O'Connor and his wife have three young children ages 4, 5 and 7. He wants to be involved with their sports teams as they get older. He also wants to be around more for his father, who has been battling some health issues.
"I plan on coaching T-ball, softball, flag football, whatever," O'Connor said with a laugh.
O'Connor's resignation is definitely a loss for Bethel Park, and for district in basketball in general. He has done a an excellent job every place he has been - Keystone Oaks, Fox Chapel and Bethel Park. He has put a spark in every program he took over.
On top of that, O'Connor is highly respected and known as one of the good guys in high school basketball coaching. Big Ben will certainly be missed.
At Bethel Park, the Black Hawks had two seasons below .500 before O'Connor took over in 2010. He was 4-17 and 8-14 his first two years. In the next four years, he was 15-8, 17-6, 18-7 and 16-10.
He started his head coaching career in 2000 at his alma mater, Keystone Oaks. The Eagles were 0-22 the year before. But O'Connor got KO to 11-13 in his first year and to the WPIAL playoffs. Over the next three seasons, he was 14-9, 14-13 and 17-11 and made the playoffs two more times before leaving to become coach at Westminster College. After two years at Westminster, he became Fox Chapel's coach in 2006 and stayed four seasons, going 61-40 and making the WPIAL playoffs three times. His 2007 team was 20-8 and made the WPIAL semifinals.
And remember, Fox Chapel hadn't made the playoffs for three seasons before O'Connor took over (Photo is of O'Connor during his Fox Chapel days)
O'Connor will continue to be a guidance counselor at Fox Chapel. He acknowledged he might get back into high school coaching again someday.
"When I was at Keystone Oaks, I thought I would be there forever. Things happen," said O'Connor.
It will be interesting to see who takes over for O'Connor. Maybe one of his assistant coaches want the job. Bethel Park has a new, sparkling gymnasium, one of the best facilities in the state. It is a Class AAAA school. O'Connor didn't leave the cupboard bare, either. There are talented players coming back.
Considering all that, Bethel Park is a job that should draw a good deal of of interest from coaches.
Showtime
If you want to hear some talk about the state quarterfinals and predictions watch Varsity Xtra's "This Week In High School Sports" with yours truly and colleague Terry Shields.
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