Augusta Basketball Culture Exceeds Coaching Position

By Augusta alum and former Panther Todd Kelsch #11

We’ve certainly had the pleasure of having some great coaches at Augusta. I’m grateful for the time each coach has given to the school. I’ve known Brian Kirk for a really long time. He’s a great guy and is extremely knowledgeable about the game. I consider him a friend. And I wish him all the luck at Mason County. He’s going to need it. Being the head coach of the boys varsity program at Augusta Independent is a privilege. It’s not a privilege because of the paycheck, not because of the wins that might come along the way and not because it’s looked at as a prestigious job in the area’s basketball landscape. Though some of that may come with what the head coaching position of the boys varsity program at Augusta really means. The coaching position is a privilege because of the culture you get to take part in. The basketball culture in Augusta is unmatched in the area. Augusta Basketball’s culture can be defined in many ways. This culture can first be explained as passion. The passion for the game of basketball in Augusta has been there for as long as I have been alive. Every Augusta kid remembers their earliest days of stepping foot into that historical gym. Every Augusta kid remembers their first experiences playing pick-up games at St. Augustine or the pool park. For the longest time, this passion was just about hard work and making past Panthers and the people of Augusta proud to come to the gym on game nights or the fact that you could get buckets on past Panthers players you had admired. The respect you earned in the town meant so much. Being part of the basketball family at Augusta has always been something special. But that passion evolved. The passion for the game that helped build an Augusta basketball family turned into hunger. The hunger was for results and success on a broader scale. The desired respect that was once just local became more widespread. Brent Bach came to accelerate that evolution of basketball culture. Augusta became a giant killer. Nothing could stand in the way, no school of any size was safe. Augusta Basketball’s encore was incredible as well. A group of kids that fed off of a fearless culture became the prototype for team basketball. That culture has remained and will continue to thrive in Augusta after a coaching change just as it did before. Augusta has what every program in the state is desperate for; an identity. Augusta Basketball is immortal. Augusta Basketball has always been here and has evolved to become successful and fearless. And you had better respect it now before it’s too late.