In keeping with an Indiana theme, Pat McKee channeled his inner David Letterman by presenting the top 10 reasons why Ron and Rick Patberg were deserving male recipients of the Jack Cramer Ideals of Athletic Competition Award.
Speaking by video conference at Friday afternoon’s ceremony, McKee, the former Columbus North girls basketball coach, shared his thoughts on the twin brothers who have been coaching basketball in Columbus for 31 years. No. 1 on the list was that each bring a big-picture perspective to their players, helping them in their sport, learning life lessons and having a positive experience.
“As coaches and people, they are serious, stern and competitive, but also caring, considerate and fun loving,” said McKee, one of the Patbergs’ presenters.
Ron Patberg spent the past 11 years as one McKee’s assistants at North, following 20 years as a coach of both boys and girls at various levels within Columbus. Rick Patberg also has coached boys and girls basketball at various levels over the past three decades.
“I’ve coached quite a few kids and have quite a few relationships, and that’s really what embodies coaching,” Rick said. “It’s not only teaching life skills, but having relationships with who you’re coaching. I hope and pray that I have those relationships, and being able to walk down the street and see somebody that I’ve coached and being able to just talk to them about their life — not basketball, but their life. Seeing how they’re doing and watching them grow as people is really what inspires me to do what I do.”
Ron also talked about building relationships during his speech.
“We coach the little things and why they really are the big things,” Ron said. “What I mean by the little things is the great relationships that you form. That’s a little thing, but it’s a big thing that makes you have success, your team have success … I think the one thing that we do as coaches is try to develop kids and help them grow, and hopefully, they can take just a little piece of you and use that in their personality or who they become as a person,” Ron said.
The Patbergs grew up in Huntingburg and helped lead Southridge to back-to-back state finals appearances in the single-class system in 1985 and 1986. They went on to play at Hanover College before moving to Columbus.
Both Patbergs were able to coach their daughters. Rick coached Sydney and Kelsey, and Ron coached Ali and Kenzie.
Ron and Ali helped lead the North to the Class 4A state championship in 2015, Ali’s senior year. Ali, who won Miss Basketball and McDonald’s All-American honors, is a senior leader on the Indiana University women’s team.
“My dad was my coach for as long as I can remember, and my uncle wasn’t technically my coach, but he was and he still is,” Ali Patberg said. “They taught me the game of basketball. They taught me way more than how to shoot. They taught me way more than how to dribble. They taught me way more than how to pass. They taught me how to never give up. They taught me how to see great in all of my teammates, no matter if they played the most or the least. They taught me the game is way more important than myself. It’s about all the other players on the court. They taught me how to play with love, passion and energy and they taught me the game of life, how to win at life.”
They’ve touched the lives of countless others, as well.
“What I find truly amazing and unique about both of them is that they haven’t just touched and changed my life, but they’ve touched all the people around them every day, not just in basketball, but in life,” Ali said. “This is what my dad and my uncle embody every day … They love seeing others grow. They love seeing people learn and succeed on the court, but more importantly, off the court.”
