TEMPERANCE — It surprised many people when Ohio State basketball star and NBA champion Dennis Hopson took the job coaching Bedford High School last year.
Some big-time stars get announcing gigs or, if they do coach high school, it may be for their alma mater. It even surprised Bedford Athletic Director Mark German when Mr. Hopson was interested in the position.
It may be more surprising that Mr. Hopson is leaving the job for an opportunity with even less acclaim. Last week, he stepped down to coach children in Toledo from third to eighth grade, he said, to prepare them for their futures.
“Without basketball I wouldn’t be who I am,” he said. “I wouldn’t have [gone] to Ohio State University. I want to use the sport, it’s not about wins and losses, it’s about what you do in general.”
He said basketball can teach children respect, respectability, confidence, competitiveness, and interactive skills. For a year, he was able to do that in Bedford, leading a rebuilding team to a 9-12 record in his first head coaching job.
Mr. Hopson was a rare high school coach that could wear a Chicago Bulls NBA championship ring during games.
“A lot of people were in awe of his background,” Mr. German said. “Bedford is not a powerhouse in basketball, I was surprised he wanted to be here, and thankful he did.
“He had an NBA championship ring in [a] high school game — that’s pretty cool.”
In 1987, Mr. Hopson was the Big Ten Player of the Year for the Buckeyes. He finished his career as the all-time scoring record holder, which has yet to be broken. He was the third overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft. He had a 14-year pro career between the NBA and several foreign leagues.
He was a Bowling Green State University assistant coach from 2010-2014, then wanted to give back to kids in return for opportunities people gave him growing up. That took Mr. Hopson to Bedford.
“I was committed to Bedford, I turned down a college [coaching] offer to stay at the school,” he said. “Things were just telling me to focus on a younger group. Bedford was good to me, I appreciate the opportunity they gave me and wish them nothing but luck.”
Mr. German said school officials are disappointed that Mr. Hopson is leaving. But Mr. German knew the coach had other opportunities.
“We’re starting a search immediately,” he said. “We’re hoping to find someone that will bring continuity and that wants to be here awhile.”
Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.
First Published October 5, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
