Goshen, Ind — They called him “Coach.”

But, Mike Sorrell was much more than that to the dozens of young men who played basketball under his guidance at Goshen High School from 1985-99.

“God, family, studies and basketball — Coach Sorrell preached that to us,” said Matt Grieser, captain of the 1992 Redskins who captured the program’s only sectional championship in the last 38 years.

A story goes that job interviewers told Sorrell in 1985 they would be pleased if he could make the Redskins competitive against the likes of Penn, Elkhart Central and Elkhart Memorial.

The coach reportedly replied, “Competitive? If I come to Goshen, I’m coming here to win!”

The Redskin program enjoyed just three winning records in the 16 years prior to Sorrell’s arrival in Goshen from Crawfordsville.

In 14 seasons under Sorrell, Goshen reached double digits in victories 12 times.

He finished as the winningest coach in Redskin boys basketball history with a 189-118 record. Sorrell was 413-252 in 30 years of coaching with prior stops at Miamisburg of Ohio, Muncie South, Highland, Beford and Crawfordsville.

The late Art Cosgrove, Hall of Fame coach, was 183-111 in 13 seasons at Goshen from 1959-72 and 477-237 overall in a 31-year career which included stints at Evansville Memorial, Tipton and Franklin.

Grieser was a dynamic point guard and team scoring leader three straight seasons from 1990-92 when the Redskins posted an overall record of 50-18. Chad Defrees, Mike Miller, Randy Bowling, Todd Miller, Rick Ralston, David Rupp and Jarrod Gamauf were playing classmates of Grieser.

“I talked to Ruth (Mrs. Sorrell) the other day and told her some of Coach’s ex-players wanted to put in some money toward a scholarship in his name. I couldn’t put in enough to repay what Coach Sorrell has done for me.

“He was one of the more remarkable men I ever knew. Along with my Dad and grandfather, they have been the most influental men in my life.

“He would get on you as a player. Then you didn’t understand why but, as time went on, it would all come together.

“Pride, pressure and poise — that was our motto back then. Goshen had really been struggling in basketball until Coach Sorrell came to town.

“He brought back the tradition of wearing red blazers as a matter of defining yourself as a Goshen High School basketball player.

“Coach Sorrell made Goshen a force to be reckoned with. I know for a fact back then that teams didn’t want to play Goshen. His teams worked for good shots and would lay some defense on you.

“No opponent could throw anything at us we weren’t ready for. He prepared us for basketball games and also the rest of life.

“Coach was quite a competitor on the sideline and I know he fought his illness right up to the very end.

“He took Goshen teams with not a lot of talent and won 13 or 14 games. Even in seasons when he played mostly sophomores, we had winning records.

“People outside the basketball family often didn’t understand this man. He just coached, giving his team the best chance to win.”

This is the 15th anniversary of the 1991-92 Redskins who posted a 21-4 record, Ryan Gingerich was a junior; Todd Nisley, Matt Faldoe and Jon Everingham sophomores to go with the eight senior leaders.

“We just played so much basketball together,” related Grieser. “Practices were a bear and probably more competitive than some games.

“I remember us winning at Concord (49-43) and ending their 61-game winning streak at home (McCuen Gym).

“Their fans were stomping on the bleachers and shaking the place. Coach Sorrell had us go on the floor first in front of all that just to show them we were not scared or intimidated.”

Unfortunately, Grieser will be unable to make the trip to Goshen for today’s calling or Wednesday morning’s service for Coach Sorrell.

Grieser sustained a foot injury last week while playing the game he loves and underwent surgery which limits his mobility.

Grieser has lived in New Castle, home for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, for eight years. He and his wife, who hails from New Castle, have four sons ranging in age from 7 years to 20 months.

Grieser, 33, works at a mortgage firm in New Castle. His mother-in-law is athletic secretary at New Castle High School which boasts the nation’s largest prep gym with a 9,325 capacity.

From Thomas Kline, GHS Class of 1998

Dear Editor,

C. Michael Sorrell had a quite unique style of coaching and mentoring. Those who were around him during his tenure at GHS also know that he was controversial. He did things his way, making him a lot of friends and others not so friendly.

The Coach was full of stories. That’s what I’ll remember about him most. I think each of his players and students will agree.

Before each practice, he’d tell stories which could seem unrelated to what we were doing. Alone, they never seemed critical. Some were funny, others he used to convey a message. What kind of coach takes the good part of an hour before every practice just to talk?

It was only as a body of work, after my seven years under his tutelage, that I realized each one was a puzzle piece. Fitted together they conveyed a set of values, a way that a man could live his life.

He mentored each of us bit-by-bit until we were each better for it. Personally, Coach Sorrell helped me understand both adversity and success are to be taken in stride. He left me with the message that it is far more important to do what’s right, what’s true.

I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to him, and to extend my condolences to Mrs. Sorrell (Ruth) and the rest of the family.

The Coach is missed. He will be remembered by countless others just like me, each of us better men for having listened.

Semper Fidelis,

First Lieutenant Thomas D. Kline, U.S. Marines, (GHS Class of 1998)

From Rick Ralston, GHS Class of 1992

Editor:

Coach Mike Sorrell was one of the more influential people in my life.

I played, then coached under Mike Sorrell for a total of eight years.

I suspect some in the community would view Coach as an intimidating individual who would speak his mind and display his passion for the game without hesitation.

While some of that is a fair assessment, it certainly does not come close to describing the type of individual he was. His passion for basketball was obvious, but much deeper. He had a passion for life and the skills he could teach through basketball. Many of us are examples of that.

I was part of the 1992 team stacked with seniors. My role was not in the spotlight and I certainly was not the type of player who helped a coach keep his job. I was a role player with minimal minutes.

However, I have numerous memories of Coach spending one on one time with me. He seized every opportunity to pass on life skills regardless of a player’s caliber and contribution.

Most of us would never realize all the things we learned from him until years later.

For me, as I started to decided what to do with my own life and the type of person I wanted to be, I was always drawn back to things Coach said. There was a reason you treated everyone involved in the game with respect. In high school it is the game of basketball, but after that it is the game of life he was teaching us about.

I can recall many occasions where he would discuss how the percentage of kids going on to play ball at another level is minuscule. He stressed as a coach that you had to have a greater impact while you had the attention of a teen.

There were many who thought it was strange that Coach at times would “waste” almost an entire practice with the players sitting on the floor listening to stories he would enthusiastically tell.

In retrospect, these are the times that I remember and cherish the most for he was teaching lessons not just telling stories. He was passionate about teaching boys to become men with dignity, pride, poise and faith.

Even in his passing, Coach continues to teach me lessons of life. There are many I have reflected on this weekend.

Most of those I will keep to myself. But there are two that I feel moved to share.

The first is a renewed concentration on faith and our creator. Coach was strong in his faith and convictions. With faith you are strengthened, appreciative, humble, forgiven, and mentored in a much grander way.

Secondly, Coach’s passing has left me with regret. Over the past year or so I have thought many times about how I needed to stop by to see him and catch up. I never took the time to do so and now I have lost the opportunity to let him know the impact he had on me and who I have become. So, he has again taught me that our priorities in life some times get mixed up. We don’t often take the time to tend to the things that really matter.

Coach spent 30 years touching the lives of young men and trying to leave his positive mark. The lives he touched are too numerous to count. His legacy will not only live on in his immediate family, but in his extended family as well, his basketball family.

I and many others who were impacted by Coach will pass on to our children the lessons he taught. His impact will live on for many generations to come.

I would like to thank Ruth and the Sorrell family for allowing me to be a part of something bigger than basketball.

Rick Ralston

GHS Class of 1992

Sorrell’s Redskins

GHS 1985-99

1985-86

Players — Ryan Sorrell, Kevin Wilfong, Todd Iwema, Mike Essig, Terry Slabach, Brian VanderReyden, Lloyd Ott, Mike Hildebrand, Jason VanCuren, Shan Hartsough, John Morris, Rusty Eash. Record: 11-12.

Assistant coaches: Mike Ritter, Mike Rozelle, Greg Cook.

Cheerleaders: Sarah Swartz, Angie Mast, Jody Yoder, Rhonda Harris, Amy Welz, Ginger Rock.

Student manager: Brad Hamilton.

1986-87

Players — Kevin Wilfong, Mike Essig, Brian VanderReyden, Dan Welz, Thad Holden, Rusty Eash, Lloyd Ott, Jason VanCuren, Rich Hollinger, Jay Shetler. Record: 10-11

Assistant coaches: Mike Ritter, Greg Cook, Dick Armington, Brian Williams.

Cheerleaders: Jody Yoder, Aimee Weber, Ginger Rock, Angie Mast, Jennifer Roth, Stephanie Grieser.

Student managers: Doug Yoder, Brent Zentz, Chad Weldy, Eric Sullivan, Jevon Brunk, Rob West, Ryan Hunsberger.

Team statisticians: Becky Mullet, Heather Couch, Kim Sorrell.

1987-88

Players — Mike Essig, Thad Holden, Scott Beres, Dan Welz, Rusty Eash, Bob Rossi, Rich Hollinger, Jered Prough, Mitch Herschberger, Randy Smith, Jeromy Sheets, Eric Wentz, David Lee. Record: 17-4

Assistant coaches: Mike Ritter, Greg Cook, Bruce Zimmerman, Deron Sorrell.

Cheerleaders: Tania Davis, J.J. Juday, Katrina Mathis, Jennifer Roth, Amy Weber, Mindy Alftenhof.

Student managers: Ryan Hunsberger, Jevon Brunk, Chad Weldy, Rob West, Brett Zentz.

Team statisicians: Heather Couch, Kim Sorrell.

1988-89

Players — Bob Rossi, Dan Welz, Jered Prough, Thad Holden, Jeff Uptgraft, David Lee, Mitch Herschberger, Matt Grieser, Eric Wentz, Shaun Beachy, Jeff Iwema, Darin Mast, Shawn Kintigh, Nolan Fry, Mike Miller. Record: 15-8

Assistant coaches: Mike Ritter, Greg Cook, Bruce Zimmerman, Deron Sorrell.

Cheerleaders: Jenny Schrock, Laura Hill, Mindy Altenhof, J.J. Juday, Mary Rodabaugh, Yvette Dalka.

Student managers: Chad Weldy, Rob West, Brett Zentz.

Team statisicians: Paul Juday, Kim Sorrell, Heather Couch.

1989-90

Players — Matt Grieser, Mitch Herschberger, Mike Miller, Shaun Beachy, Shawn Kintigh, Chad Defrees, Marc Mosness, Steve Kercher, Stuart Scott, Nolan Fry, Eric Evans, Todd Miller. Record: 14-7

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Greg Cook, Bruce Zimmerman, Deron Sorrell;.

Cheerleaders: Marcy Vanderveer, Laura Hill, Kerri VanderReyden, Heather Perry, Jeni Banta, Tina Blough, Brandi Barkes.

Student managers: Derek Burkhead, Chris Lehman, Chad Weldy, Rob West.

1990-91

Players — Matt Grieser, Mike Miller, Chad Defrees, Shawn Kintigh, Ryan Gingerich, Steve Kercher, Matt Faldoe, Todd Miller, Todd Nisley, Randy Bowling, Jarrod Gamauf, David Rupp, Rick Ralston, Dwayne DuPree. Record: 15-7

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Bruce Zimmerman, Craig Zentz, Jeromy Sheets.

Cheerleaders: Brandi Barkes, Kerri VanderReyden, Tina Blough, Marcy Vanderveer, Tricia Leatherman, Karen James, Julie Mirer.

Student managers: Derek Burkhead, Chris Lehman, Marcio Medeiros, Pat Schneider, Rob West.

1991-92

Players — Matt Grieser, Chad Defrees, Mike Miller, Ryan Gingerich, Todd Nisley, Randy Bowling, Matt Faldoe, Todd Miller, Rick Ralston, David Rupp, Jon Everingham, Jarrod Gamauf. Record: 21-4 (sectional champions)

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Bruce Zimmerman, Craig Zentz.

Cheerleaders: Brooke Berry, Angie Miller, Heather Boyd, Jenny Trenshaw, Julie Mirer, Trish Leatherman.

Student managers: Derek Burkhead, Pat Schneider, Jeff Schneider.

1992-93

Players — Ryan Gingerich, Jon Everingham, Casey Cook, Todd Nisley, Josh Sheets, Matt Faldoe, Allen Hodge, Brett Weddell, Fred Ratcliff, Ryan Bergman, Eric Cramer. Record: 7-14

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Bruce Zimmerman, Craig Zentz.

Cheerleaders: Heather Boyd, Courtney Caldwell, Angie Miller, Jenny Trenshaw, Brooke Berry, Chandra Barkes, Alisa Gamauf.

Student managers: Pat Schneider, Jeff Schneider, Trevor Hopper.

1993-94

Players — Jon Everingham, Josh Sheets, Kyle Jantzi, Casey Cook, Brett Weddell, Jason Holmes, J.D. Hershberger, Kipp Barhydt, Brent Miller, Kevin Ganger, Fred Ratcliff, Ryan Bergman, Shawn McKee, Steve Germani. Record: 14-7

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Bruce Zimmerman, Craig Zentz.

Cheerleaders: Jessica Snobarger, Alisa Gamauf, Jenny Trenshaw, Courtney Caldwell, Tara Herrli, Angie Miller, Heather Boyd, Kristy Camacho.

Student managers: Trevor Hopper, Greg Scheider, Kurt Unrue.

1994-95

Players — Brent Miller, Kyle Jantzi, Josh Sheets, Jason Holmes, J.D. Hershberger, Andy Ganger, Brandon Sorrell, Casey Cook, Kevin Thomas, Marcos Garber, Nate Reiniche, Dan Braun. Record: 14-7

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Bruce Zimmerman, Craig Zentz, Rick Ralston.

Student managers: Trevor Hopper, Greg Schneider, Sam Blosser, Kurt Unrue.

Cheerleaders: Kristy Camacho, Arlene Fisher, Aimee Miller, Regan Mosher, Jenny Trenshaw, Jessica Snobarger, Alisa Gamauf, Courtney Caldwell.

1995-96

Players — Brent Miller, J.D. Hershberger, Andy Ganger, Thomas Kline, Brandon Sorrell, Jon Swartz, Nick Schrock, Dan Braun, Josh Schrock, Tom Hoogenboom, Cory Showalter, Marc Jantzi, Kevin Donat, Craig Sheley. Record: 12-10

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Craig Zentz, Bruce Zimmerman, Chad Defrees.

Student managers: Sam Blosser, Jim Charles, Joe Charles, Nick Kruger, Dave Schneider, Greg Schneider.

Cheerleaders: Kristy Camacho, Amanda Snobarger, Regan Mosher, Aimee Miller, Julia Fisher, Kelly Miller, Carrie Zentz, Amy Dean.

1996-97

Players — Andy Ganger, Brandon Sorrell, Thomas Kline, Jon Swartz, Marc Jantzi, Matt Bartley, Tom Hoogenboom, Josh Kurtz, Craig Sheley, Nick Schrock, Cory Showalter, Phil Mikel, Aaron Faulkner, Scott Defrees, David Rossi. Record: 13-10

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Craig Zentz, Bruce Zimmerman, Chad Defrees.

Cheerleaders — Brooke Neff, Amanda Snobarger, Kelly Miller, Amy Dean, Aimee Miller, Christi Klein, Carrie Zentz, Rachael Cunningham, Jessica Theis.

Student managers — Sam Blosser, Jim Charles, Joe Charles, Nick Kruger, Dave Schneider, Greg Schneider.

1997-98

Players — Ben Penwell, Thomas Kline, Jon Swartz, Phil Mikel, Tom Hoogenboom, Scott Defrees, Justin Kincaid, Aaron Faulkner, Mitch Mast, Josh Kurtz, David Rossi, Josh Keister, Andrew Bushong. Record: 17-5

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Craig Zentz, Bruce Zimmerman, Chad Defrees.

Cheerleaders — Sarah Snyder, Amanda Snobarger, Kelly Miller, Brooke Neff, Kelly Kurtz, Katrina Kaeser, Jacinda Moore, Holly Branson, Jessica Theis, Christi Klein, Kate Bolduan.

Student managers: Andi Hamolli, Bob Schneider, Jacob Gross.

1998-99

Players — Justin Kincaid, Scott Defrees, Tom Hoogenboom, Phil Mikel, Josh Keister, Josh Kurtz, Jeremiah Latham, David Rossi, Jeremiah Gamauf, Brandon Hughes, Mitch Mast, Aaron Faulkner, Andrew Bushong, Matt Holmes, Adam Bartley. Record: 9-12

Assistant coaches: Brian Williams, Bruce Zimmerman, Mike Miller, Rick Ralston.

Student managers: Bob Schneider, Nathon Beall.

Cheerleaders — Christi Klein, Staci Mockler, Nicole Sheeley, Kait Hertzler, Cami Cripe, Jenica Hurst, Katy Boston, Lindsey Graham, Tara Miller, Iliana Otero.