By Bubba Harnist
Staff Writer
A couple months after watching football coach Dave Pasch resign, North Putnam is again faced with a resignation from one of its coaches.
This time its head boys basketball coach Wes Peek, who recently submitted his resignation as teacher and coach to accept the head coaching job at Milan High School.
Peek, who just completed his third year at the helm of the Cougars, said going 1-20 last year was tough, but that’s not the reason he is heading to Southeast Indiana to take the Milan boys basketball job.
“It’s Milan,” Peek said when asked why he is leaving North Putnam. “The tradition, the history, the commitment to basketball, and the community support were very attractive.
“It’s a place that is important to Indiana basketball, and to get the chance to be a part of that was intriguing.”
That’s just a small snippet from the conversation Coach Peek and I had recently. Peek is a very good friend of mine and was gracious enough to sit down and talk exclusively with Hoosier Authority about his decision to leave North Putnam.
Below is the transcript from that conversation.
BH: After three years at North Putnam, why did you decide to leave?
WP: I’ve always seen Milan as one of the special jobs in Indiana and when it came open, I felt like there was a great opportunity there to take over a tradition rich program where the community truly cared about it’s basketball team.
BH: How tough was it to hand in your resignation to North Putnam?
WP: I hated to leave, but the opportunity at Milan was exciting. The administration was very supportive of it, as they have been supportive of my family and I since we arrived.
BH: How tough was last season on you? Going 1-20 and watching two players get bady hurt in a car crash at the beginning of the season?
WP: It was tough. The 1-20 was secondary. Going through that accident and all the follow-up was hard because of all the time and effort that those two kids had invested was taken away in a split second. It was tough to watch the families go through that and it certainly took a toll on our team. Those two kids were vital to our team, but more importantly they were important to me. That was the hardest thing; just seeing two kids that I cared so much for, have to go through that ordeal.
BH: What will you remember the most about your time at North Putnam High School?
WP: The people. I developed a lot of great friendships that I hope to continue. Our former players have meant a lot to me. The human side of changing jobs is the most difficult to deal with.
BH: What are you most proud of as you look back on your three years at North Putnam High School?
WP: How our players turned out. We have had tremendous kids that, I hope, were able to learn lessons about the importance of hard work, character, and doing things the right way. I think we accomplished that.
BH: You are heading to Milan High School, what made you want this job?
WP: As Tom Crean would say, “It’s Milan!” The tradition, the history, the commitment to basketball, and the community support were very attractive. It’s a place that is important to Indiana basketball, and to get the chance to be a part of that was intriguing.
BH: Most people know that coaching is a full-time job itself and you need support from your family. How has your family been throughout the whole process of leaving North Putnam and heading to Milan?
WP: We are a basketball family. My wife was a college player, my son is 11 months old and his favorite toy is his basketball. It has been something that has always played a large role in our lives, and they are as excited as I am to get started. I am extremely lucky to have a wife that understands this business and this sport, and she has always been my biggest supporter and my biggest critic, but she has always supported my decisions in basketball, and this was just the next one.
BH: Last but not least, do you have any last thoughts and or comments to North Putnam high school, the community, or the players you have coached these last three years?
WP: I’m leaving behind a tremendous group of young men that want to improve. They have great attitudes and great character. Leaving them will be difficult. I just hope that they understand that in this business, sometimes people move around when an opportunity like this comes up. I think they do. Our former players have been supportive of it, and I hope that they can make the trip down to see a game or two. I’ll miss the people I’ve gotten to know, but I think that when you forge strong relationships with people, those friendships will remain intact regardless of where you work or live.
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