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Archbold coach Brian Ziegler guided the Blue Streaks to a 26-2 record and the Division III regional finals.
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Blade girls coach of the year: Brian Ziegler

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

Blade girls coach of the year: Brian Ziegler

Archbold mentor piloted Blue Streaks to regional finals

Archbold coach Brian Ziegler thinks for a program to reach a level of consistent success, it takes more than the effort of one head coach.

Ziegler has led the Blue Streaks girls basketball team to five district titles in the past six years, but he said it takes quality players who buy into a system developed by a good staff of assistant coaches.

Ziegler guided Archbold to a Division III regional final for the third time in his nine seasons at the helm. The Blue Streaks had a 26-2 record, including a 20-game winning streak to start the regular season.

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Archbold was No. 2 in the final D-III state poll. For producing another “Elite 8 season,” Ziegler was named The Blade’s girls basketball Coach of the Year.

RELATED CONTENT: Blade boys player of the year ■ Blade girls player of the year ■ Blade boys coach of the year ■ All-Blade boys team ■ All-Blade girls team

Ziegler said much of the success can be attributed to his players, as well as the contributions made by his assistant coaches Ryan Holdgreve, Char Sharp, Tess Pinter, and Sarah Wyse.

“You have to have good players and, any time a coach gets an honor like this, you have to credit the players and the assistant coaches,” Ziegler said. “You have to have a good staff. It takes a group effort. There is a lot of input from the other coaches. I’ve never been one of those guys where it had to be my way. Everyone has an opinion, and then the head coach has to decide which route to go.”

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He also said the players must believe in the strategy, then implement it.

“The players have to buy into it,” he said. “We’ve been fortunate to have players that do that. We’ve had great chemistry.”

He said it was the unselfish nature of this year’s team that led to the deep tournament run.

“Every player gave up individual stats and honors for the good of the team,” he said.

No one exemplified that more than senior guard Kierstyn Repp, who earned first-team All-Ohio honors after averaging 15.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

“She didn’t force things,” Ziegler said. “She allows the game to happen.”

Ziegler also said he had a well-rounded team with strong players at the guard and post positions.

“We were very good in a lot of areas — shooting and defense,” he said.

He said the players also took an early exit in a district semifinal last season to heart.

“They were in the gym the next day. That’s when they understood what it takes to get to the regional level,” he said. “I can’t say enough about how hard they worked, and they were rewarded.”

Archbold won the NWOAL title (7-0) and opened the season 20-0, including a 53-44 victory against Division I Perrysburg. The Blue Streaks took their only loss in the regular season, 61-43 to Ottawa-Glandorf, the top-ranked team in Division II.

Their season ended in a regional final when they fell 60-31 to No. 4 Columbus Africentric.

Ziegler, who earned his 300th career victory this season, has been a head coach for 18 seasons. He has led his alma mater to a 193-33 record the past nine seasons. Before that, he coached the boys team at Stryker, where his teams compiled a 112-85 record.

He also won The Blade’s top award after the 2012 season when he led the Blue Streaks to a 24-1 record, including the team’s first-ever 20-0 regular season.

Ziegler was a senior on the Blue Streaks basketball team in 1985. He said there are many aspects of coaching that appeal to him.

“I like the competition,” Ziegler said. “I like to see the kids work hard and get rewarded. I like to see them go out and play hard. I like the teamwork we have with the coaches.”

He also had the chance to coach his daughter, Alyssa Ziegler, who was a senior this season.

“This was a very rewarding season with my daughter in her final year,” he said. “I will continue to coach. I think I can still get some things done. I'll keep going until I stop enjoying it.”

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.

First Published March 26, 2017, 4:28 a.m.

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Archbold coach Brian Ziegler guided the Blue Streaks to a 26-2 record and the Division III regional finals.  (THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH)  Buy Image
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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