Steve Rickert taking over Oconto Falls boys basketball team

New coach hoping to give program stability
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

Steve Rickert will look to provide the Oconto Falls High School boys basketball program with stability after being named the head varsity coach.

The boys basketball team started last season under first-year coach Aaron Zepnick, but it was interim Todd Skarban who ended the year as the coach. Since Kirk Hirst resigned after the 2018-19 season, Gary Regal and Joe Bebeau also coached the boys team.

Rickert has several years of basketball coaching experience, all in Illinois. He coached at the middle school level starting in 2004. He coached freshmen and sophomores and was also a varsity assistant for six seasons. He also was a varsity girls coach for a couple seasons.

After coaching in Illinois for several years, he’s hoping to do the same in Oconto Falls. While he is new to the area, there’s plenty of familiar faces on the coaching staff.

“Continuity plays a critical role in the success of a program, and we’re very fortunate that the other three coaches on the staff are all returnees from last year,” said Rickert. “We’re all 100% focused on getting this program to where we believe it can be. We also know that getting to that point is a process and we’re committed to doing the necessary work now and in the years to come.”

Oconto Falls athletic director Jerry Moynihan said Rickert will serve as the high school’s special education teacher.

“We are very excited to have our boys basketball coach in the building to help build our program,” said Moynihan. “His daily contact with our athletes will be able to build a program on a daily basis throughout the school year. He is a former principal in his previous job, and we are looking for him to be a great leader for our program.”

While the team won’t start playing games until the winter season, Rickert already has an idea of the talent he has at his disposal.

“Prior to our participation in summer league, the only thing I had to gauge the team was last year’s win/loss record. I have been encouraged to observe considerable talent at each level in our program. I’m confident that if every member of this program does their part, we’re going to begin stacking successes,” Rickert said. “I believe great things are on the horizon for Oconto Falls basketball, this season and beyond, and I am honored to be a part of it.”

In terms of his coaching philosophy, Rickert has things that pertain to the program and things that are more game-oriented.

“First and foremost, everyone in the program needs to understand that it is a privilege to represent our school and our community,” said Rickert. “With this privilege comes responsibility. We must commit to putting in the time and work necessary to be properly prepared for each game, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that demonstrates high levels of character, and we must be all-in on with a team-first mentality. These qualities should manifest themselves both on and off the court.

“As it relates specifically to my game philosophy, my expectation is that each time we step onto the court, we will be confident in our preparation and we will expect to be successful. We won’t be out-hustled, we won’t back down from a challenge, we will play at our tempo, we will limit mistakes and we will display high level basketball IQ. If we meet these expectations, then win or lose, we can walk off the court with a sense of pride.”

Oconto Falls finished the 2021-22 season with a 2-23 overall record. The Panthers went 0-18 in North Eastern Conference.

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