High school basketball: Bill Zych resigns as Southport boys coach after one season

Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star

Bill Zych resigned Monday after one season as the boys basketball coach at Southport.

Zych, who led the inexperienced Cardinals to a 9-14 season, said he is not planning to pursue another head coaching job. The 68-year-old resigned last spring after 13 seasons at Pike and has coached 37 seasons total, compiling a 478-375 overall record with stops at Winamac, Rensselaer Central, Jay County, Center Grove, Shelbyville, Perry Meridian, Pike and Southport.

Southport athletic director Nick Stevens said the job will be officially posted on Tuesday and the school will go through the normal protocols in making a hire.

“After much consideration, I have decided to step down from my position of head boys basketball coach at Southport High School,” Zych said. “I would like to thank the past and present administration for giving me the opportunity to develop a first class program at Southport. Building and maintaining a K-12 basketball program is an enormous responsibility. I feel that the administration should find a person who is driven for years to come.”

Southport returned a team with little varsity experience after former coach Eric Brand stepped down after a 14-10 season in 2022-23. But the Cardinals played well after a 3-8 start, including victories over Franklin, Decatur Central and Roncalli in the second half of the season.

Southport High School head coach Bill Zych gestures during the first half of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional semi-final basketball game against Ben Davis High School, Friday, March 1, 2024, at Southport High School.
Southport High School head coach Bill Zych gestures during the first half of an IHSAA Class 4A sectional semi-final basketball game against Ben Davis High School, Friday, March 1, 2024, at Southport High School.

All six of Southport’s top scorers were juniors or sophomores.

“This certainly was a transition year as the program is in a great place as we have several student athletes returning with varsity experience and several underclassmen who can maintain success into the future,” Zych said. “I would also like to thank my staff for their effort and support at the high school level. Also, thanks to the coaches and the volunteer coaches at the elementary level for their time as we continue to expand the basketball program at Southport.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: High school basketball: Bill Zych resigns as Southport boys coach

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