Sue Northey and Randy Myhre will join an elite list of coaches from around the state this weekend when they are inducted into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The two will join Dave Burgett, former Cloquet head coach and now an assistant at Esko, in the hall. Burgett was elected a year ago.
"It is a great honor," said Northey, head coach in Esko. "The people who've gone in before us are all great role models and Dave is one of the pioneers of girls basketball and was around at the beginning."
In order to be considered, coaches must have been coaching at the high school level for 15 years or more.
"When you think of all the great coaches who have coached, of course it is a great honor," explained Myhre, head coach in Barnum. "I really think this is more of an organization award. By that I mean it is an award of the players, coaches, school and the community. All of those people had donated so much and that is what makes for a successful program."
Both schools are local power houses in the basketball community with Esko in Class AA and Barnum in Class A. Esko recently completed back-to-back trips to the state tournament and Barnum finished with the best regular season in school history before falling just short of their second straight trip to the Big Show.
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"There aren't many female coaches so it is nice to be a role model for the younger people," stated Northey. "I think this shows that you can be a role model as a coach, teacher, mom and wife and hopefully others will follow."
Both coaches have been hugely successful in their careers with Myhre racking up 481 career wins and a number of state tournament trips including a third place finish in 2006, while Northey has added 332 victories and six state trips as well.
"In order to be recognized at this level you have to have a commitment from so many people, especially your family," commented Northey. "I am lucky to have such an amazing and supportive family who allow me to do it the way I think it needs to be done. They could not be any more supportive."
Myhre echoed those comments and added his own twist.
"This is a group project and by that I mean by your family and the community family as well," remarked Myhre. "My wife, Julie, has been so tremendous and before my three girls were old enough to play themselves, they allowed me to do this, and now to be able to coach them makes it even that much better."
Along with accolades often comes criticism, but both coaches seem to keep that in perspective.
"Early on I kind of figured out that criticism goes with the territory," explained Myhre. "You can't bend to the critics; however, criticism is a necessary ingredient to the program that will never change and will always be there."
Northey and Myhre have done a good job of setting their goals and being focused towards that goal on a year-in and year-out basis.
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"When you are consistent and you are lucky enough like I am to have the same coaches for so long, it helps reach those goals," mentioned Northey. "When you have everyone, especially your assistant coaches, willing to do whatever is necessary, then you can be successful."
Both coaches will be inducted in ceremonies Sunday night at the University of St. Thomas in the Twin Cities. Prior to the ceremonies on Saturday, the Minnesota State High School All-Star Basketball Series will be held with Northey and Burgett coaching the Class AA team, which features one of their own star players, Sami Mattson. The Class A team will include Colleen McKay who has starred at center for Myhre's Bombers for the past three seasons.
"I think when you see kids develop to their potential it is the most satisfying," said Myhre. "The commitment of time is so important and when you make that commitment of time you see the results."
While Northey has the good fortune of being joined by Burgett, Myhre has had strong assistant coaches through the years including the last few years with Jerry Erickson.
"Like I said before, when you have people who are willing to sacrifice their time for the kids, you will see the positive results," suggested Myhre. "I've been lucky enough to have family and coaches and the administration willing to make that same commitment."
Myhre was named the 1998 Class A Coach of the Year in the state of Minnesota and this year's Bomber squad was the winner of the Section 7 Class A Academic Award.
Ironically, Esko and Barnum play in the Polar League and play each other a couple of times a year, which has been beneficial for both teams. While the teams are fierce rivals on the court they also have mutual respect as do the coaches.
"Isn't it interesting that we are both going in (to the hall of fame) at the same time?" asked Northey. "It will be a lot of fun to go in at the same time as Randy."
