Bill Dunkle, one of the most decorated coaches in West Geauga history, has died at the age of 66. Dunkle was just short of his 67th birthday when he died in his hometown of Titusville, Pa., according to longtime friend Dale Smith, noting Dunkle had moved to his childhood home after he finished his t eaching and coaching years at West Geauga and Cardinal. “I will miss my friend,” Smith said. “He was loud and boistrus, but he really was a great guy. His passion was sports. He really enjoyed coaching and he really cared for the kids.” Dunkle led West Geauga to slow-pitch softball state championships in 1991, 1994 and 1995, his program placing second in the state in 1992 and 1993. Slow-pitch softball was not sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, but nevertheless, Dunkle’s program was at the top of the mountain. Dunkle also coached girls basketball for a number of years, leading West Geauga to the 1994-95 Division II regional championship game, where the Wolverines lost to Coach Pat Diulus’ Trinity Trojans, 82-55, after winning the only regional semifinal in program history, 65-48, over Tallmadge. When he left West Geauga in 1996 to coach at Cardinal, he was the all-time winningest coach in girls basketball and softball history, records that still stand today. Between his tenures at West G and Cardinal, he accrued an all-time basketball record of 231-109. He also coached various levels of football, baseball and golf during his long career. He taught mathematics until his retirement five years ago. “He meant a lot,” said Paul Powers, who was West Geauga’s athletic director during Dunkle’s tenure. “When girls sports were just emerging, he was on the forefront doing a lot of those things like having year-round programs. Everyone does that now, but back then, he was taking kids to camps and all of those things. “Bill always had his heart in the right place with kids and the communities of Chesterland and Novelty. His teams were always ready and prepared.” A smile came across the face of Ray Force, recalling the days when he, Cheryl Rye and Frank Rico were on Dunkle’s girls basketball coaching staff. “Bill was demanding, but kind at heart,” Force said. “We had some great teams in the ’90s. It was a lot of fun.” Rye agreed. She took over the West Geauga girls basketball program in 1996 and credited Dunkle in part for allowing her to grow as an assistant. “He allowed his assistants to grow, especially during practices,” Rye said. “(The assistants) had quite a few responsibilities. He was very successful coaching his sports.” None more so than the proud slow-pitch softball program. Aside from Wickliffe winning two state titles under then-coach Pete Humphries, West Geauga ruled the roost when it came to girls slow-pitch softball. Longtime friend and assistant Sandy Siegler said “Bill had a knack for putting kids in the right place” on the softball field. Siegler recalled a tragic time when Dunkle took the West G team to Florida for a spring break trip of games. One of the parents collapsed with a heart attack after a morning run and died. Dunkle’s compassion during that hard time, Siegler said, stood out. “Bill was strict and tough,” Siegler said. “But he was a big teddy bear underneath that.” Another of Dunkle’s longtime colleagues and friends was Don Schutz. While they coached different sports — Schutz coached football and gymnastics at West G — their paths met often. “Bill wasn’t married. Teaching kids was his life,” Schutz said. “Coaching was everything I lived for. He was just a guy that loved working with kids. THAT was his family.” That care for the kids he taught and coached shone through until the very end. “There was this book written by (legendary coach) John Wooden of legendary quotes,” Smith said. “He used to buy one of those books for every senior player of his when they left Cardinal. That was Bill — he always tried to make a difference in kids lives. His giving heart always stood out.” ...read more read less