After 50 years of teaching and coaching, Westol still loving every minute

John Westol poses for a photo in the gym as 5th graders play kickball at St. John Lutheran School in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

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Posted November 19, 2021 | By Joel Bronson
joel@ocalagazette.com

When one peruses the countless scrapbooks, scorebooks, and other mementos that line his office shelves, it’s no wonder John Westol can recall just about every contest he has coached during his five decades in the profession.

A native of Michigan, Westol began his teaching and coaching career at St. John’s Lutheran in Adrian, Michigan in 1969 after graduating from Concordia Teacher’s College (now Concordia University, Chicago).

Westol taught and coached for a decade in Adrian before moving to Florida in 1979 on the recommendation of a college football teammate.

“Dennis Meunier and I were teammates on the football team at Concordia,” Westol said. “One day, Dennis called and suggested I move to Florida and teach at St. John Lutheran in Ocala, where we could coach football together.”

The rest is forty years of extensive coaching history.

Westol then moved to Florida, and his first teaching assignment was fifth grade. The coaching opportunities soon followed. He accepted a position as an assistant football coach for the St. John varsity football squad.

But basketball has been the constant.

In his over 50 years of coaching basketball, Westol has amassed a monumental 1180 wins, a number that continues to grow.

The memorabilia in his office verifies the total.

The scrapbooks and scorebooks from the 1970’s and 1980’s all around the office seem to take visitors into a time warp to decades past.

When a full head of hair and bushy mustache are pointed out in a team photo from 1985, Westol said, “That was the style back then!”

The conversation turned to the 2021-22 season, which started this week.

“We won our season opener against St. Pat’s 55-13,” Westol shared. “We’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”

The call and desire to teach and coach young people is a very rewarding experience, he added.

“I realized how rewarding coaching could be when I first coached my youngest brother-Tim-in middle school church league basketball,” Westol said.

“I realized how quickly kids can adapt and work if they are given the chance to work hard and believe in themselves. To see kids develop from year to year is always a joy! It never seems to grow old!”

Westol has coached a plethora of sports at St. John Lutheran over the years. In addition to coaching football and basketball, he has also coached flag football, softball and track.

When asked about his biggest coaching success, Westol harkens back to 1997 when his Saints squad finished 2^nd in the nation in the National Lutheran Tournament of Champions at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

“We finished 2^nd out of 32 Lutheran school teams from all around the country,” Westol said.

Many successful coaches refer to colleagues who have made an impact on their coaching careers. Westol is no different.

“There are so many who have been influential to my coaching career,” Westol said. “From Paul Buchheimer, who I coached with for nearly 20 years, to Rob Wheeler, a friend and assistant on our 1994-95 undefeated team. Bill Abbey was my jogging partner and sounding board for so many years. Our current assistants James Stone and Jeremy Gravante have been keys to our success over the past four seasons. There are so many others in many areas.”

A strong family support system is always integral to a coach’s longevity and success. Westol’s wife and kids have been with him every step of the way.

“A big shout out to my wife, Ruth, who has been a scorekeeper, time-keeper, counselor, assistant coach and sounding board during many of these seasons,” Westol said. “I’ve also had the pleasure to coach my four children, Sarah, Rebeccah, Andrew and Matthew, in multiple sports.”

Westol recalls a former St. John Lutheran administrator, Dick Rath, who shared two very impactful mantras over the years.

“Dick always used to say, ‘to God be the glory’ and ‘it’s for the kids’,” Westol said.

“I am so thankful to the Lord that I have been able to be called ‘Coach’ for all these years!”