Thursday’s announcement that Lamar Rogers would step down at Clarkrange Basketball Coach, hit hardest among those closest to the veteran coach.
Cindy Stowers is a fellow Clarkrange High School teacher. The 1992 graduate served as a manager and statistician for Rogers during her high school years and has continued to keep books for the team for some thirty years.
“Coach Rogers has just been so influential because his passion for the game and he just made everybody want to improve upon their game and be able to move forward and be a part of such a tradition that he has created here at Clarkrange High School,” Stowers said.
Stowers said Rogers maintained a consistent day-to-day philosophy that focused on the connection between practice habits and game performance. Stowers said the coach demanded a high level of effort from his players at all times to ensure they were prepared for competition.
“He has always had the philosophy that you play like you practice,” Stowers said. “And if you practice half-heartedly, that’s how your game is going to show as well. So he expected one hundred and ten percent from practice throughout games.”
Stowers said the community and the state recognize the school specifically because of the basketball culture Rogers established. Stowers said his preparation allowed the team to remain competitive in games where they were considered underdogs.
“He always expected excellence and you always strove to meet whatever expectations he had of you and of the program and of the team and the way that he studied the game and his opponents, he could always make an impact and always be in a game that others thought we would not be in,” Stowers said.
Stowers said the physical legacy of the coach is visible through the championship banners hanging in the gymnasium. Stowers said the court itself is named the Lamar Rogers Court in honor of his contributions.
“It will be those banners that are throughout the gymnasium,” Stowers said. “And of course the, the gym is itself is the Lamar Rogers Court and, so when people come in we always, have a request for them to go to the gym just to see those banners that hang there.”
Stowers said the timing of the resignation relates to the length of his tenure and a desire to focus on his family. Stowers said stepping away from the sidelines will allow Rogers to watch his youngest granddaughter play basketball from the perspective of a grandparent.
“He just felt like it was time,” Stowers said. “And others had made a comment, you know, maybe he, would be able to enjoy watching his youngest granddaughter play instead of being a part of the sideline. He could actually be a grandparent instead of, you know, the coach. And it might be more enjoyable for him in that aspect instead of coaching.”
Stowers said the school will now look for a successor to lead the program forward.
“Obviously there’s going to be some big shoes to fill,” Stowers said. “And no one will ever be able to replace him, but someone’s going to have the opportunity to come in and make their own mark and hopefully continue with the tradition of excellence and winning that he has created here at Clarkrange High School.”