The Chart Online

Ressel enjoys strong community support
Naoko Onoda

Chart Reporter

For the upcoming season, the Missouri Southern basketball team has started the preseason with new members and a new assistant coach as its weapon.

We have good community support here in Joplin, and I like that, said Ron Ressel, new assistant coach for Missouri Southern men s basketball team. I enjoy coaching here.

He started learning basketball when he was in fourth grade. His junior and senior years in high school, he went to state in division 2A. He graduated from Southern in 1992 with a bachelor s in secondary education.

Ressel also has the experience of head coach for a women s basketball team at Rend Lake College for seven years when he produced a record of 118-92.

Other awards and honors include being named to the first team All-State basketball in 1986 and 1987. He received Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1996 and Great Rivers Athletic Conference Co-Conference Champs in 1997. He is the Region 24 Women s Basketball Division 1 committee chair since 1997.

Ressel also teaches basketball and Lifetime Wellness classes at Southern for regular students. Teaching in the classroom is different for him since he is an athletic coach, but something he still enjoys.

In the basketball class, students start practicing individually passing and shooting the ball. After that, students play some games.

He is very fun and outgoing, but he is probably more serious when he coaches for the team, said Matt Johnston, a sophomore management major in the class. He doesn t get upset about how students play, and I like that.

He can make students understand, said Mike Stewart, sophomore biology major. He is also very easy to get along with. Usually, there are two types of teachers at school. One is yelling at students and forcing them to do things. The other ones are cool and get along with students well. Coach Ressel is cool and gets along with us, and he also explains good.

Plus, while students play, he calls individuals names and gives them advice. If somebody does good defense or makes good shots, Ressel will let them know to help students learn from those experiences.

Being a basketball coach was always something Ressel wanted to do since his high school years. After he played for the College basketball team, he always wanted to stay at the college level. Robert Corn, head coach for Southern s basketball team, was also the head coach when Ressel was a player.

The team began actual practice Oct. 15. Meanwhile, members have been doing individual work, which is shooting and working out. By getting the players in shape, the team is trying to exceed the record.

Ressel is excited about the team this year.

Even though they lost three good players last year, the team has more quickness, he said. All the players are getting along pretty good. They have a good balance and depth in every position. It will accomplish and achieve their games. They are doing a good job.

Coach Ressel knows what he is doing, said Michael Aponte, a sophomore team member. He expresses better. He is also very diligent and real good. I like him.

In the morning, people usually force themselves to go to class or work. However, it is easy for Ressel because coaching is always something he loves and wants to do. He has flexibility at his work, not like sitting in the office the whole day.

I think the team can go as far as we want to go this year, Ressel said. Of course, we need some luck and talents though.