Hal Gunter has been a fixture on the Warsaw boys basketball coaching staff for almost four decades. (File photo by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – The rich history of success of the Warsaw boys basketball program has been built on consistency.

It’s also been based on the unwavering commitment of its coaches throughout the system.

Hal Gunter would have to be put right at the top of that lengthy list of dedicated mentors to hundreds of young men throughout the years.

Gunter has been a fixture on the Warsaw bench for almost four decades. The man, who is best known for his ritual of passing out Leman’s Mints, has been the longtime varsity assistant coach to both Al Rhodes and Doug Ogle.

Gunter, who grew up on a farm in Claypool, absolutely loves the game that he still teaches to those in a city where basketball is still king.

“I just love the game,” said Gunter during a recent interview in the basketball coach’s office inside the Tiger Den. “I loved to play it. I love to watch it. I love to teach it. I love the practices and the games. I even love the team bus rides.

“I’m doing everything that I set out to do, teach and coach. I’m so glad that I have been able to do that. Coaching is what I am. If you are doing what you love, you don’t have a job.”

Gunter came to Warsaw after getting a call when Al Rhodes was hired in 1980. At the time, he was the freshman ‘B’ team coach at Wawasee.

“Al and I played on the same adult basketball league team in Warsaw,” noted Gunter of Rhodes, the Hall of Fame coach who is now the Penn coach. “We used to hang around after games and just talk about the game and about coaching it. He called me in the summer of 1980 after they hired him here at Warsaw and asked me to come coach here.”

Gunter spent 22 seasons on the bench with Rhodes. The Tigers, led by the likes of Mr. Basketball recipients Jeff Grose and Kevin Ault, posted a 405-133 mark on the hardwood. Warsaw won 14 sectional titles, seven regionals, four semistates and the 1984 state championship.

Gunter is all about the process of teaching the game in the right way.

“Basketball is a simple game that is very difficult to play correctly,” Gunter explained. “Teaching young men to think basketball is a very difficult thing to do. For me, it’s a challenge that I enjoy. I view the game like a game of checkers.”

Gunter and the Warsaw program are based on the fundamentals of the game. The Tigers still do many of the same drills that they were doing back in the 1980s and still relying on the same principles for success such as preparation, proper practice and teamwork.

“My approach is to focus on the fundamentals and the execution of those,” said Gunter. “Proper practice makes perfect. We want guys who can process information and execute. If I can show you the why, then you can figure out the how.

“The focus is on the mastery of the fundamentals correctly. It’s about fundamentals, conditioning and teamwork.”

Gunter, now 70, has spent the past 16 seasons working under Ogle. The Tigers are 247-121 in that time span with six sectional championships, seven NLC crowns and a Class 4-A state runner-up finish in 2010. Ogle, who joined the program in 1985, was the junior varsity coach for 15 seasons under Rhodes. Ogle went 270-30 on the JV level, including 98-2 his final five seasons.

Warsaw assistant coach Hal Gunter (right) exchanges thoughts with associate head coach David Wayne prior to a home game versus Carmel.(File photo by Scott Davidson)

Gunter, who boasts the gift of gab and the vast vocabulary of a philosopher, praised the work of this year’s edition of the Tigers. A very inexperienced Warsaw started the season 3-7 including a stretch of five straight losses, but bounced back to win a share of its record-setting fourth straight NLC championship. The Tigers, who are 11-11, will begin their quest for a third straight sectional championship starting Tuesday night in Elkhart.

“I’m so happy for the kids on this team,” said Gunter. “They never gave up on themselves or on each other this season. They were determined to work hard, to get better and to have each other’s backs and play like a team.”

Gunter, who played competitive hoops up until about a decade ago, began his coaching career at Argos.

“I coached seventh grade basketball, junior high track and cross country and had to drive the bus, too,” recounted Gunter with a chuckle. “It’s been an interesting career, but I loved it and I still do.”

Gunter is someone not shy about sharing his opinion. He is also completely locked in during games from his seat on the bench right next to Ogle and not far from outstanding associate head coach David Wayne. Wayne, who was an All-American player at Taylor University, has spent the past dozen years on the Warsaw coaching staff.

“All I hear during games is Doug and David,” Gunter remarked. “All I hear is our conversations. We are constantly communicating with each other and with the team. People have no idea how many decisions are made on the bench in a 32-minute game. It’s one of the things that I love about coaching.

“I’m not a yes man. For me, it’s about say what you mean and mean what you say. My philosophy is here’s what I think and here’s why I think that. I can tell you that no one is harder on me than me. I’m always replaying the events from a game. After a loss sometimes I will just go gas up my truck and drive.

The pursuit of excellence is personal because it’s me pursuing it.”

Gunter, who is the father of two and grandfather of five, says the focus has to always remain on the young men who wear the orange and black each and every season.

“It’s not about me,” said Gunter emphatically. “If I ever lose sight that what we are doing is not all about the kids then I don’t belong here. It’s all about the kids in this locker room. It’s all about teaching them lessons from basketball that they can use in their lives.”

Gunter, whose roles models include his father “Red”, along with his former high school coach Tom Miller and UCLA coaching legend John Wooden, says that the program has been fortunate to have outstanding coaches at every level.

“We’ve always had people here who approach teaching and coaching from a similar mindset,” stated Gunter, who still has the phone number of coach Wooden (who passed away in 2010) stored in his phone. “We’re focused on the same big picture. In the end, we are focused on the players who are products of the program.

“The thing is that we have people coaching at every level in our program that are doing he best they can for our kids and that’s what we always have to keep in perspective. It’s about them.

“I’ve been blessed to have worked with both Al and Doug. And a lot of other great coaches throughout our system.”

Just as have countless young men been blessed to learn from one of the best in Gunter.