Every year it seemed it was Galesburg vs. Rocky for a right to go to state. And fortunately for us, it was an era when we had Sarah Pacheco, Megan Pacheco, Jaque Howard, Sarah Larson, Shannon Williams, Molly Watson, etc. I will admit it, we were absolutely from 1995 thru the 2000's loaded with unbelieveable talent. But year after year it was Galesburg and Rocky as the top two.
The best part is that Rod is working with another favorite, Thom Sigel.
Similar backgrounds gave way to identical answers.
Unanimously, it was the love of the game.
At one point or another, Scott Harding, Ryan Kelly and Rod Leatherman served as a Western Big 6 Conference girls' basketball head coach before ultimately stepping down. A few years later, they all found their way back to the sideline this season as -- and this is pure irony -- boys' basketball assistants.
So what brought them back?
As Leatherman, a second-year Rock Island boys' assistant after spending 15 years as the girls' head coach, put it, "I couldn't stay away."
The passion was just too much.
"I love doing it," said Harding, a United Township assistant who was the school's girls' head coach for three years. "I'll be around a while."
For one, returning to his alma mater meant leaving a head-coaching position to become an assistant.
"I didn't know right away what it would be like, but I'm having a great time," said Kelly, who left Sherrard to join Pat Rangel's staff at Alleman. "The kids are fun, the team is up and coming. I can't say enough how much Pat has allowed me to coach. We just have a great staff to work with."
Close ties to their current schools and coaching staffs made the decision to become an assistant easy. Both Harding and Kelly accepted their positions last spring and Leatherman was elevated from an underclass coach to varsity assistant this fall.
Possessing experience and knowledge inside the Big 6, each has morphed into a critical voice on the bench. Their time as a head coach taught them how valuable an assistant coach can be on the sidelines, so they are now fulfilling those expectations.
"You know what, I've been around a little bit, so I have seen some stuff," Harding said. "I'll bounces ideas off (UT head coach Marc) Polite. It's good. What I give him is a different perspective, or another set of eyes."
And the insight extends beyond games.
"Personally, I feel like I have a lot of experience in different areas, situations," Kelly said. "I have a lot to offer in unique situations. Having been a head coach, I understand the big picture to help guide in other areas of the program."
Leatherman provides an example of those expectations. Besides being Thom Sigel's top assistant this year, Leatherman works with the Rocky post players and coordinates scouting.
"I have loved every second," Leatherman said. "I have enjoyed it. ... It's fun to be back in the game."
Seeing familiar faces enhances a friendship that has been strong for years. Like it or not, these three are similar not just because of their backgrounds, but in the way they approach the game and even this story.
At first there was hesitation before succumbing to the pressure. Once they were interviewed, all three were asked the same questions, with two responding, "How did the others answer that question?"
This came after a few jokes were uttered over the phone.
"We enjoy competing against each other, but we have a good time," Leatherman said. "We're all very competitive, but we've grown to be pretty good friends because of basketball."
Need further proof of the close ties? Harding was an assistant during Kelly's tenure at UT. A few years later, Kelly coached on Leatherman's staff at Rocky. Completing the circle was Leatherman being Kelly's assistant at Sherrard.
"It's weird how it's all come about," Kelly said. "It's fun."
No one regrets the decision to slide down one spot on the bench, giving up freedom for what most consider a thankless job. The passion was simply too strong to stay away.
"I love it. I absolutely love it," Harding said. "I'm having a blast."
Metro boys' basketball beat writer Daniel Makarewicz can be reached at danmak@qconline.com or follow on Twitter @danmak_DA.
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