Photo slide show of pictures of current Hall of Fame members will go in this space
Pat Hill, Warren McConnel are 2009 indiuctees
Pat Hill and Warren McConnell, who spent more than 30 years together at New Richmond High School as teachers and coaches, have been selected as the 2009 inductees into the New Richmond Lions Sports Hall of Fame.
Hill, who retired last year after spending 36 years at the school – the last 10 as athletic director -- began teaching at New Richmond in 1972, started the girls basketball program two years later and won eight sectional or district titles in that sport.
She also coached track with McConnell and will again run the Cincinnati Division II-III district track meet which New Richmond hosts for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
One of her first players was Liz Misheff, who along with Glenn Stiles was among the first two inductees into the Lions Hall of Fame in 1996. Since then 70 more names have been added to the Hall, including former NFL star Dwayne Woodruff and former major league and Cincinnati Reds player Todd Benzinger.
“The thing that I remember the most is the kids in New Richmond appreciated anything you did for them,'' said Hill, who was a star high school basketball player in Georgia. “I would tell them that all I could do was give them the knowledge and help them to develop as an athlete.”
McConnell joined the school in 1973 and retired from teaching in 2003 but stayed on as an assistant football and head track coach until 2007, when he won his last of more than 20 league and district track championships. Among the track stars McConnell coached are two-time state discus champion Ben Bird and state distance runners-up Jeff Howard and Eric Finan.
“It's enjoyable for me to see kids get better,” said McConnell. “They don't have to be a state champion. You can see a kid's confidence grow as he gets better or as he runs a little faster or jump a little higher.”
McConnell was the defensive coordinator for state Hall of Fame coach Ron Bird until Bird retired after the 2002 season. Their last four years together resulted in three state playoff berths and a combined 40-6 record.
McConnell will be in his second year as an assistant track coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, where he wears purple team colors.
“It's the first time I've ever been associated with a team or school that didn't have red in its color,” said McConnell. “I heard a lo of comments about how bad that purple looked when I came back here for the district meet last year.”
and Warren McConnell, who spent more than 30 years together at New Richmond High School as teachers and coaches, have been selected as the 2009 inductees into the New Richmond Lions Sports Hall of Fame.
Hill, who retired last year after spending 36 years at the school – the last 10 as athletic director -- began teaching at New Richmond in 1972, started the girls basketball program two years later and won eight sectional or district titles in that sport.
She also coached track with McConnell and will again run the Cincinnati Division II-III district track meet which New Richmond hosts for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
One of her first players was Liz Misheff, who along with Glenn Stiles was among the first two inductees into the Lions Hall of Fame in 1996. Since then 70 more names have been added to the Hall, including former NFL star Dwayne Woodruff and former major league and Cincinnati Reds player Todd Benzinger.
“The thing that I remember the most is the kids in New Richmond appreciated anything you did for them,'' said Hill, who was a star high school basketball player in Georgia. “I would tell them that all I could do was give them the knowledge and help them to develop as an athlete.”
McConnell joined the school in 1973 and retired from teaching in 2003 but stayed on as an assistant football and head track coach until 2007, when he won his last of more than 20 league and district track championships. Among the track stars McConnell coached are two-time state discus champion Ben Bird and state distance runners-up Jeff Howard and Eric Finan.
“It's enjoyable for me to see kids get better,” said McConnell. “They don't have to be a state champion. You can see a kid's confidence grow as he gets better or as he runs a little faster or jump a little higher.”
McConnell was the defensive coordinator for state Hall of Fame coach Ron Bird until Bird retired after the 2002 season. Their last four years together resulted in three state playoff berths and a combined 40-6 record.
McConnell will be in his second year as an assistant track coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, where he wears purple team colors.
“It's the first time I've ever been associated with a team or school that didn't have red in its color,” said McConnell. “I heard a lo of comments about how bad that purple looked when I came back here for the district meet last year.” or,” said McConnell. “I heard a lo of comments about how bad that purple looked when I came back here for the district meet last year.”
Athletic Association.