He simply said hello and welcome to the neighborhood. That was the start of a friendship that extends to this day.
Bob and I weren’t the kind of friends who hung out on a regular basis, but when we did see each other, it was much more than “Hi, how ya doing?” a handshake, and on about our business. It almost always meant long talks in his office with him at his desk and me relaxing on that big sofa that, while aging, just as he and I both continue to do, seemed to become more comfy and inviting with each visit.
Sometimes we’d talk sports, sometimes it would be an official interview for a story, and sometimes it would just be catching up on family, etc. as some time might have passed since our last chat session.
No matter the reason, they were always enjoyable.
Those visits won’t be happening come September, at least not in Bob’s office — because it won’t be Bob’s office anymore. He is retiring from Weatherford College on the last day of August after 48 years of devoting himself to the school (not sure if the couch has been there that long).
Almost five decades doing the thing he loves most. Not just coaching basketball, but molding young lives.
It takes a special kind of dedication to stay somewhere and to do something that long. I often have trouble doing something for five minutes — just ask the lovely Mrs. Junell when she needs a task done around the house.
While that might or might not be debatable, there is no arguing that Bob was one of the greatest things to ever happen to Weatherford College — a place where many, many great things have happened over its history.
Oh, and I’m eternally grateful for the several times he let my daughter Kinsley sing the national anthem before the start of a game when she was a young teen. She still talks about that being one of the highlights of her life.
Like any great coach, Bob has an impeccable resumé that includes 16 conference titles, five regional championships, five national tournament appearances, and one NJCAA Final Four.
He leaves as the winningest women’s NJCAA Division I women’s basketball coach ever with 1,043 victories. He is also in the NJCAA Hall of Fame.
During his tenure, he coached 21 NJCAA All-Americans. The most recent was this past season, Neso Anisiobi.
In addition, he served as the college’s athletic director for 41 years. He oversaw much success by other coaches and players in many other sports, such as the Coyotes baseball team reaching the NJCAA Division I World Series in 2023 with coach Jeff Lightfoot, who has since moved into the athletic director position, along with Haylee Williams guiding the 2013 Coyotes softball team to a World Series berth, and Johnny Emmons leading the 2022 women’s rodeo team to the first team national title in school history.
He also oversaw the addition of many sports that almost instantly became a national success, such as volleyball, golf, and tennis. Cross country is soon coming onboard in the fall.
Bob also worked tirelessly to help his players move on to the next level. And not only in sports, but in the world of academics — and even as they ventured out into “the real world” to begin careers of their own.
It was a regular occurrence during those visits in his office that we’d have to pause the conversation for a second while Bob got a call from a former player or assistant coach. Many times when I’d walk in he’d be in an online chat with one via Facebook or email, just seeing how they’re doing.
Then he’d turn to me and brag about them like they were his own children.
“I tell you, Rick, it’s amazing how fast she’s climbed in her career. She’s making so much money now and has so much responsibility,” he’d say, pausing to laugh and adding something like, “I wouldn’t want her responsibility, but I’d take the pay she’s making in a heartbeat.”
And he’d always end with something like, “I am so proud of her. Players like her are what made me stick around so long.”
The players feel the same way about Bob. I’ve interviewed many over the years while at the school or after they moved on. They all have one thing they consistently say in one form or another.
“Bob is the best coach I ever had.”
Bob is not leaving because he can’t win anymore. His 2025-26 team was 16-11 and the year before that they were 20-11.
He’s leaving because he’s tired — not of coaching, but just plain tired. He’s endured the loss of both his sweet wife Dee in 2020 and loving daughter Traci in 2024, both to cancer.
Coaching surely helped distract from the pain a little bit, but life has without question become more challenging for Bob as it does for all of us eventually. He would coach another 48 years if his body would hold up — and he’d probably win another 1,000 games doing so.
A winner never wants to step aside, but they all have to. But trust me, Bob is still going to be active, still going to smile and share a laugh with folks, especially those he likes, every time he can.
I’m glad I’m one of those people.
He may not be doing so on the sidelines anymore, but he remains an inspiration — to me and many others. I hope we get to visit again, even if he doesn’t take the couch with him.
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