MANSFIELD — Winston Churchill once described Russia as a riddle wrapped inside a mystery inside an enigma.
Such is the interesting and highly successful story of Mansfield St. Peter’s boys basketball coach Joe Jakubick, whose team (25-2) is one game away from the state Final Four in Columbus.
Jakubick was an NCAA scoring champion at the University of Akron, averaging 30.1 per game.
Yet he worries so little about individual points he declines to publicly disclose his players’ scoring averages during the season. He much prefers talking about defense and ball movement.
Jakubick walks the sideline during Spartan games, arms often crossed, seldom yelling and screaming as many coaches do these days. He isn’t ruffled by individual bad moments or single mistakes.
But when he sees a troublesome pattern developing that bothers him, Jakubick can unload with an intensity seldom matched.
As a player, Jakubick left after his sophomore season at St. Peter’s to finish his high school career at Madison. He stayed in the Akron area after graduation and later coached the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary girls’ team to the state semifinals.
But he returned to St. Peter’s three seasons ago with the stated mission of taking the Spartans back to Columbus for the first time in almost 27 years.
MISSION WITHIN REACH: With a win Friday night in Toledo against Delphos St. John’s (20-4) in the Division IV regional finals, that original mission will be accomplished.
But you can bet, if his team beats the Blue Jays, Jakubick will watch his players take down the nets while his mind focuses on the state semi-finals. By the time he gets home, he will have received a scouting report on St. Peter’s next opponent. He will have a game-plan starting to form.
One mission follows the next. Goal accomplished means next goal set. Riddle meets mystery meets enigma.
But not unlike the title to the classic 1973 Led Zeppelin concert film, the Jakubick game-plan remains the same.
It starts with smothering defensive pressure — full and half court — always with an eye on steals. Rapid transition from defense to offense, often resulting in easy lay-ups. Precise ball movement, passes that lead to easy inside shots or wide-open triples. Don’t take a shot when a pass will lead to a better shot.
It’s the strategy that’s created 47 wins in Jakubick’s last 53 games at St. Peter’s, including back-to-back trips to the regional finals. Likely, it’s the strategy that Jakubick has used in creating a 219-93 coaching record in 13 years, the first 10 leading the girls at ASVSM.
HAVING THE HORSES: Some may suggest the Spartans simply have the talent to beat most anyone they play. Those who believe that know little about high school basketball.
There is no doubt this St. Peter’s team has talent. It has perhaps the best balance in a starting small-school five I have seen in 38 years of covering high school hoops in Ohio. I honestly don’t recall a team that could have four different players score 20 points on any night.
But he also coaches up that talent; harnesses that talent; directs that talent; pushes that talent. Praising. Criticizing. Hugging. And yes, he’s not above kicking a backside or two (figuratively) when that talent loses focus.
That’s what Jakubick does. That’s what all great coaches do.
I have been blessed to watch and cover many great small-school coaches in Ohio. Richard Kortakrax (877 wins) at Kalida. Charlie Huggins (398-74 record and three state titles) at Indian Valley South. Bob Arnzen (676 wins) at Delphos St. John’s.
These are just a few. I watched Terry Leggett post a 225-50 record at Old Washington Buckeye Trail, including two trips to Columbus. The late, great Perry Reese, a friend of mine gone from brain cancer far too soon, won a state title at Berlin Hiland and took three other teams to Columbus.
All of these men had things in common. A love for the game and the players they coach. A strong belief in their system and the discipline to instill it. An ability to get every inch of talent out of their players. And a desire to win so strong that no hurdle was too high.
That’s what I see in Joe Jakubick.
A team can have all individual talent in the world. But if the coach can’t make them play together, can’t make them sacrifice themselves for the team, can’t make them believe the whole is better than the parts — it won’t matter.
Jakubick is doing that for the Spartans.
This St. Peter’s team may not win a state title. That’s yet to be seen. The next step comes Friday in Toledo against a very good defensive team in Delphos St. John’s. Basketball is played with a round ball which can bounce any number of unpredictable ways.
But I do know this.
The Spartans will not be out-coached.
And there is no mystery as to why.
