Episode 69 - Kirk Lehman - Retired Head Coach - Defiance High School (Defiance, Ohio)

Basketball and Life: with Coach Jon Cook

I have often referred to the coaching profession as a fraternity or brotherhood, and it is. However, it is also a highly competitive and sometimes ego-driven profession as well. Because of that nearly everyone who has spent any time in coaching likely has members of the fraternity whom he/she dislikes. Likewise, those of us who have spent time in the coaching ranks are likely to have coaches who dislike us. It is just a fact of life in coaching. Except, it seems, for Kirk Lehman. I have been around high school coaching in Ohio for more than 25 years, and I have never heard anyone speak about Kirk Lehman that doesn't seem to absolutely love the guy. That is just one reason that I am so excited to have him on the podcast. Coach Lehman has had a remarkable journey in high school coaching. After a playing career at Ohio University, Coach Lehman was an assistant at Logan High School. He became the head coach at Rossford High School and after a tumultuous ending to his time there, he was out of high school coaching for a number of years before taking over the program at his alma mater, Defiance High School, where he won an improbable state title in 2017. Coach Lehman retired after the 2020 season. Please enjoy my visit with Kirk Lehman of Defiance High School.