So long, coach
Ryan Prewitt/Suburban Journals | Terry Hollander is headed for Lindenwood University.
When Terry Hollander decided to take his 37 years of coaching experience to join Brad Soderberg as an assistant basketball coach at Lindenwood University, it took most people by surprise.
Not only is Hollander a staple of the St. Charles West basketball program, but of the entire St. Charles community. His influence stretches well beyond the local basketball scene and he endures today as one of St. Charles’ most beloved public figures.
Hollander graduated from Duchesne in 1970 and after attending college at what’s now Truman State University came back to his alma mater three years later as an assistant coach for football, basketball and baseball. He spent five years at Duchesne before going to St. Charles West, where he became head basketball coach after two seasons as an assistant to Ray Fisher. He was an assistant football coach under Steve Stahl and then Gary Strauss up until this past season, and has coached golf for the last five years.
To get different perspectives of his retirement, the Journal contacted some of his former players, coaches and colleagues to share their favorite stories, memories and run-ins they’ve had with him over the years.
After speaking with 15 people for this story, one thing is clear: Hollander’s message to local youth has changed very little over the years. His message always had purpose and maintained the same underlying meaning. As a result, the words of his past players echo those of his most recent.
Steve Stahl
Stahl began his teaching career at St. Charles High in 1971 and became head football coach at West when it opened in 1976. He held that title until his retirement in 1998, after which the school’s football stadium was re-named in his honor.
A local legend in his own right, Stahl first met Hollander in 1974 on the baseball diamond.
“Outfielders were shagging fly balls,” Stahl recalled. “I saw him, waved, we shook hands and introduced each other. It was the start of a friendship that’s lasted 35 years.”
Stahl and Hollander were big believers in the wishbone offense, which saw its heyday in the 1970s. But both were convinced it was the best way to win consistently, especially during years when the school’s talent level wasn’t exceptional. West went on to win eight district titles under Stahl and three more under current coach Gary Strauss.
“I can’t think of any person that’s had a bigger effect on kids I’ve seen in my career, especially in our community,” Stahl said. “I’m proud like a lot of people. I hate to see him go but at the same token it’s something he wants to do and I’m happy for him. They just don’t come any better than him. One of those one-in-a-million guys. I’m a better person for having worked with him.”
Paul Boschert
Boschert graduated from Duchesne in 1977 and was coached by Hollander in three sports all four years of high school. He played on Hollander’s first teams in 1974-75, and after attending Lindenwood was invited by Hollander to come to West to be the freshmen boys basketball coach.
A few years later, Boschert and Hollander both applied for the vacant position as West’s activities director, but it would have required Hollander to step down as basketball coach, which he wanted no part of. Boschert got the job and is now occupying the same position for another local high school, Fort Zuwmalt West.
“His encouragement really opened the door for me,” Boschert said. “Those three years I spent at St. Charles West was an opportunity for me to hone my skills as an athletics director. Being underneath him as a mentor and coach impacted me more than anything. I wish him well at Lindenwood. We’ll miss him at the high school ranks but we won’t lose him all together.”
Boschert and Hollander became brothers-in law in 1982 when their siblings married. At the time, the St. Louis Cardinals were in the midst of their World Series with Milwaukee. Boschert said the two briefly left the wedding to catch a glimpse of what was happening in the series and forever etched in Boschert’s memory are Willie McGee’s two defensive gems and three-run home run from Game 3, which the Cardinals won 6-2.
Gary Strauss
Although he never had Hollander as a history teacher, Strauss competed under Hollander in three sports during his playing days at West. He took over the football program two years after Stahl’s retirement (succeeding Bochert’s one-year stint as head coach) but even today occasionally finds himself deferring to his old mentors in crunch time.
“Terry’s still the master,” Strauss said. “There are still times where I make a point to get over and listen to him explain to kids everything they need to work on. He tells them no detail is too small because if you overlook something small something bigger will go wrong. Him and coach Stahl are up in the booth for us at our games and I can’t have two better guys on a headset if you have to make a crucial decision. They’re two of the best to bounce ideas off of.”
Dave Lehmann
Lehmann was a 1986 graduate from West, the year the Warriors won their first district basketball title. He currently coaches basketball at Christian High School with another former West player and teammate, Dave Meers.
Lehmann asked Hollander to be a groomsman at his wedding, and he used it as an opportunity to pull a fast one on his former coach.
“One of my groomsmen happened to be late, so when he got there he walked down the aisle, tapped (Hollander) on the shoulder and said ‘Hey Terry, you’re out.’” Lehmann said. “He walked down the aisle and ushered the rest of the wedding. I told him it was for all the times he took me out of games.”
Lehmann also recalled a random in-game situation when West entered halftime trailing Pattonville by 16 points. At that time Meers picked the wrong time to set the record straight.
“In the locker room Terry was ranting, raving and screaming and mentioned that Meers didn’t have any rebounds,” Lehmann said. “Meers said ‘No, coach, I have one rebound.’ There was a moment of silence, Terry looked around and said ‘One rebound? I could put a chair in the lane and the ball would fall in it!’”
Ryan Robertson
Among West’s best-recognized alumni, Robertson has kept close ties to Hollander and the West basketball program since graduating in 1995 and winning the school’s lone state basketball title that same year.
“I remember lots from that game but it’s what he said before the game and what he said after that really sticks out,” Robertson said. “Before the game he spoke more toward our careers as a book, and we would take the court to write the last chapter. He told us to leave it on the court and make sure that chapter is written in the correct way.
“Afterward he said, ‘Make no mistake, what you just accomplished will be remembered for the rest of your lives. In 30 years you guys will walk in somewhere and someone will point to you and say, I remember him, he was on that state championship team.’”
Robertson went on to enjoy a successful playing career at the University of Kansas under coach Roy Williams and is still an active member of the St. Charles community. He serves on the Board of Trustees at St. Charles Community College and spearheads a yearly golf trip where Hollander and other acquaintances come together in one of their most anticipated social events of the year.
“It’s the highlights of all our summers,” Robertson said. “The interesting thing is every single person that’s there is somehow tied to coach Hollander. Without him the trip would unravel.”
Kramer and Brad Soderberg
Soderberg joins Robertson as the only West players to reach 2,000 career points and have their jersey numbers retired.
His relationship with Hollander began when he visited open gyms during his pre-high school days, and as a result Hollander became close friends with then-Saint Louis University men’s basketball coach, Brad Soderberg.
Soderberg was fired from his post at SLU just prior to Kramer’s senior year, and as a result had lots of free time to talk basketball with Hollander, whose team lost in the Class 4 state championship game that year. Their friendship continued well after Kramer graduated and went to play basketball at Miami University (Ohio) and after Brad joined Lindenwood as its head coach.
Then one mid-January day, over lunch at AAA Burgers on Elm Street, their relationship turned professional.
“He said he and his wife decided the time had come to step away from St. Charles West,” Brad said. “I said, ‘Terry, don’t do it. I’m a Warrior fan having been a player’s parent.’ I told him to stay but he said he decided this is what he was going to do. At that point I knew there was no talking him out of it.
“Just the thought of having him by my side as I build the Lindenwood program into what we hope it can become gives me a sense of confidence. It gives me a veteran to bounce thoughts off of and get ideas from. He brought up the idea of helping me at Lindenwood and it was literally a no-brainer. It’s such a great thing for Lindenwood basketball and I think for the city of St. Charles. To keep a guy with his talent in the community is a great thing.”
Christian Kirk
When Kirk transferred to West for his sophomore year he quickly asserted himself as the program’s next spotlight player.
After Duchesne upset St. Charles West in overtime during the district semifinals this season, Kirk could sense something different about Hollander’s demeanor while having the always-difficult, end-of-season discussion.
“You could kind of tell in the locker room he was upset,” Kirk said. “I didn’t know why but now it comes into perspective. He told us good game, good season, but this time he gave us his perspective on life and told us what being a man is all about. I thought, ‘Coach, it’s only the end of the season. We’ll be back next year.’ Now looking back I put two and two together. I’m definitely sad he won’t be my coach next year but on the other hand it’s a great opportunity for him to coach college basketball and still stay in town.”
Brenda Hollander
Behind every good man is a good woman, and Brenda Hollander has been supporting Terry’s ambitions throughout their 36 years of marriage.
High school sweethearts from their days at Duchesne, Brenda shares with her husband the sadness of leaving St. Charles West but also the excitement of what’s next.
“Just a few weeks before the season ended, he walked in the door and said, ‘Hey Brenda, I got offered a different job,’” she said. “He swore me to secrecy — even to our kids — so the last few weeks of the season was hard. When we lost in districts I sat there knowing it was his last game, sitting in the bleachers with close friends who had no idea. I remember him looking up at me like, ‘Oh man, this is it.’
“It’s been a lot of fun for him. I still see myself sitting in the bleachers, although I’ll have to switch over my wardrobe to black and gold instead of maroon. We’ve known coach Soderberg and his family for several years so he couldn’t be going to work for a better guy. I’m real happy for that. Basketball will continue to be a big part of our lives.”
gneunuebel@yourjournal.com
