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Top 25 Countdown 2021

Top 25 Countdown No. 8: ECC’s Straub Reaches Another Remarkable Milestone With 900th Win

D9and10Sports.com is counting down what we believe are the Top 25 moments/games/performances of the 2020-21 high school sports season in District 9 and District 10.

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No. 11 – ECC’s Straub Reaches Another Remarkable Milestone With 900th Win

It was a game not unlike many others Elk County Catholic boys’ basketball coach Aaron Straub has coached in over the years, but on a cold mid-January day, an 8-point win over Otto-Eldred meant a milestone the likes of which District 9 has never seen.

The victory marked the 900th in Straub’s legendary coaching career, one that has now spanned five decades.

To put the 900 wins in perspective, legendary Keystone coach Greg Heath notched career win No. 639, surpassing Union legend Don Stemmerich for the most in Clarion County League/KSAC history and the second most in District 9 history with a 61-55 victory at C-L in late February. Straub is in his 41st year as a head coach (two as the girls’ coach at ECC when he went 27-22. Heath began his stint at Keystone in 1985.

District 9 is lucky to have both men active as head coaches.

And as for Straub’s 900, it’s a number that’s hard to put into words. But for Straub, it’s about so much more than the wins and losses.

“If we’re only in this for the x’s and o’s, we’re missing a great opportunity to impact the people that we coach,” Straub said, reflecting on his life in coaching. “Athletics is about developing the entire student-athlete, mind, body, and soul. The athletics event is the vehicle for how you can reach out to the student and interact with them on a daily basis. That’s a big part of what we hope that we’re able to accomplish.”

Straub has certainly accomplished impacting the young men (and women) he has coached.

“Everything is about discipline and integrity,” said Kyle Mahoney, who was a key cog in the undefeated 2006 state championship team. “I feel like I’ve taken so much, everything to prepare me in life, everything I do in life, I think back to how well structured and organized we were. He might be the biggest role model I’ve ever had in my life.”

Staub currently has a record of 914-267, and if you listen to his former players, he’s going to keep adding to that win total for a while.

”I think he loves what he does and you’re going to have to drag him off the floor,” said 2017 graduate Nate DaCanal.

We certainly hope that’s the case, as Straub continues to impact the lives of so many, players both past and present.

                       

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