By NCNews Staff
(This is the first in a series of feature stories on the 2007 inductees into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame).
BY JOHN D'ABRUZZO JD'ABRUZZO@NCNEWSONLINE.COM
Basketball has always been on Bill McNees' mind. McNees tried baseball and football growing up, but he couldn't forget about his one true love. "I'd be at baseball or football practice thinking, 'I can't wait to get home and play basketball,' " the 52-year-old said with a grin. "I realized that basketball is where my interest lies. It became what I wanted to pursue and I haven't looked back yet." A brown leather ball and hardwood floor proved to be the right choice for McNees, one of 13 members of the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame's 2007 class, set for induction April 29 at the New Englander. The social hour will begin at 1:30 p.m., with dinner at 3. A 1973 graduate of New Castle High, McNees was a team captain and earned first team all-section honors as a senior. Following high school, McNees went to Slippery Rock University, where he was a three-year starter and captain. McNees earned all-conference honors and was named an academic All-American during his those three seasons before graduation in 1978. Initially a business major, McNees knew basketball had to remain a key component of his life. "I didn't want to leave (the game)," McNees said. "I wanted to pursue it even when I got out of college, so I switched my major to education. I knew I wanted to get into high school coaching, so that became my next goal. "What kept me in it so long is that I just enjoy working with the kids." After three seasons as the ninth-grade coach at George Washington Junior High, McNees began what became an illustrious career as the boys basketball coach at Shenango. "There's no harder working individual in this world," said Mike Othites, who spent more than 20 years as McNees' assistant. "I love him like a brother. He taught me everything. His whole life is this game." In 25 years, McNees compiled a 312-267 record with four section titles and a WPIAL Class AA championship in 1996. His Wildcats qualified for the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs 14 times. "I love the game, breaking it down and working with it in every aspect of coaching the game," McNees said. "Even more so than coaching the game, coaching kids is exciting." Bill and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of Kelly and Steve. McNees decided to retire after the 2005-06 season, but his passion for the game continues as he follows Steve's basketball career. Steve is a redshirt freshman at the University of Akron. "It wasn't the matter of passion that got me out," said McNees. "Obviously it was the chance to watch my son play in college. I did not want to miss that." Coaching cross country for 15 years at Shenango was also important to McNees. His teams won five Tri-County championships and went undefeated twice. "I was very proud of the cross country teams that I was privileged to coach," McNees said. "I got to coach some tremendously talented and dedicated athletes." A few years after college, McNees found his way into running. He qualified for the Boston Marathon in 1994 and 1995 -- but because of his basketball schedule, he was only able to compete in 1994. And he'll never forget his first marathon when he ran in Pittsburgh's Great Race with a group of friends. "It was my first race," he said. "I go down there and I didn't have the right shoes. I was a basketball guy out there running. I didn't know what the heck I was doing. "Now the competition part grabbed me. You always like that individual competition. I finished way ahead of all my buddies. I went after a running career with the same passion I had for coaching." McNees is thankful for the support he received from his family. "Through my playing career, I could not have done it without the support and encouragement of my parents," he said. "My family now has allowed me to continue to pursue the goals and passions I have. "Without the support of my family, I probably wouldn't have been the player I was and I certainly wouldn't have become the coach that I was." TOMORROW: Jen Book Conrad.
