Zakos Earned The Job

The Fond du Lac boys basketball team ended their season last night in the Regional Semifinals at rival Sheboygan North 73-69. Fondy season ended at a dissapointing 6-15 but Cardinal head coach Adam Zakos did enough to have the "interim" tag taken off of his title. With Cardinal coach Dick Diener retiring last summer, the former Cardinal star and Division Three All-American was promoted from the JV head coaching post to the Varsity coach on an "Interim" basis. At the time the school district said they would give coach Zakos the job an an interim basis and then do a more extensive search after this year was over. We'll this year is over for the Cards, but the search should be short. Yes, the record wasn't great this year, but from my perspective, Coach Zakos proved he is the man for the job.

Here are my reasons why it's a no-brainer to rip that interim tag of Coach Zakos' title.

1. The team got better as the season went on. If you saw this team early in the year, it was not pretty. There seemed to be no chemistry and it just seemed like something was missing, but as the season went on things go better. Down the stretch they were in many games that they probably should have won, but couldn't get over the hump. Oshkosh North laid a 30 point loss on Fondy in the FVA opener and Appleton West spanked the Cards by 31 points during the first half of the season, but Fond du Lac rebounded to beat those teams the 2nd time around.

2. The team lost a pair of players during the season that would have helped down the stretch. Senior Ben Anderson went out early in the season after knee surgery and 6'7 Nelson Pickart was lost in January with a foot injury. Anderson was a veteran to the varsity with a pretty good mid-range jumper and a leader. On a team that wasn't exactly blessed with "basketball smarts" Anderson could have added one more piece that understood the game, game situations and has been through the battles of the FVA before. As for Pickart, this was going to be a season where he kinda felt his way through Varsity basketball and next year I would have expected to see a pretty good post player for the Cards. The injury may have set that back a bit, but if Nelson works hard during the summer, he'll be a decent post player in the FVA. You saw flashes from Pickart who showed signs of what could come in the future. With more time on the floor, and he can just react and not have to think, he'll be fine.

3. Off the court, Coach Zakos was as good as it gets. His weekly newspaper column in The Reporter was fabulous. Coach Zakos delivered some interesting insight to Fondy basketball and also a few funny stories that put the program in a positive light. From what I have been told he was always available for many booster club functions and meetings to add any help he could. He is also great to the media as well, he has always been very cooperative and forthcoming with his thoughts.

4. Coach Zakos bleeds Cardinal red. There is no other person that could be hired that understands what Fondy basketball is all about. Adam is a Fond du Lac Cardinal and knows what it means to put on that jersey. It's an honor to be a Fondy Cardinal. Sometimes these days I think players don't understand how lucky they are to play for a program that was built on blood, sweat, and tears. The great teams of the past were built with hard work in the offseason and during the regular season...something I don't think that is understood by some. You won't be good by just putting on the uniform. You have to put in the time during the summer. Not just playing AAU, but working on your game and getting better every day.

5. This Fondy team will be better next year under Coach Zakos. Fondy brings back two really good players in Eddie Gilgenbach and Nick Ford. Gilgenbach led the FVA in scoring this year and should return as an First Team All-FVA Player and be in contention for FVA Player of the Year. Point Guard Nick Ford is just a sophomore this season and will be even better as a junior. I'm excited to watch Ford run the show for two more seasons. Preston Thompson has shown flashes as well of being a decent varsity player as well, and hopefully another year of development will help him. Sam Munson will be back in 07-08. Munson could be the most athletic player in the FVA. For a guy that stands 6'0 he plays like he's 6'5 and it's always good to see a guy throw down a two-handed dunk. Add to the mix a healthy Nelson Pickart, a more experienced Jeremy Meyer and and Fondy will be better in the paint. Also adding a few players from the JV team should help the back end of Fondy's bench and make practices a bit more competive. Having a group of guys that bust it in practice against the Varsity can play a big role on game night, even if the fans don't see it. My broadcast partner Bob Hoffmaster pointed out that Neenah was a team that won just 8 regular season games last and this year they are the #2 seed in the Sectional. That could be Fondy next year.

Again, to me it's a no-brainer. Adam Zakos should be named the full time boys varsity basketball coach today at Fond du Lac High School. You don't need a committee to talk about it, you don't need to post the job. Just write up the press release, send it out and take that "Interim" tag off of his title.