It’s been more than three decades since the Chaska girls basketball team first had Bob Downs at the head of the bench.

After thousands of practices, hundreds of games and bus rides to courts near and far, Downs is stepping away from the sidelines as the Hawks' head coach.

“It turned out to be a pretty good year to go out on,” Downs said. “They say you’re going to know when it’s time. I am going to continue teaching.”

The longtime coach was elected to the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association’s girls basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.

“Maybe that was the clue for me to go then,” Downs joked.

Downs took the Hawks to five state tournaments, including a fourth-place finish in his final season.
Chaska first made state in 1982, repeated as section champs in 1983 and went to state again in 1990. The Hawks reached the state championship game in 1998 before falling to Minneapolis North.

Downs shared head coaching duties with Tara Seifert this season.

“The program is in great hands with Tara,” Downs said. “She and (assistant coach) Angie Heisler are fantastic.”

Looking back, Downs said he is proud of what his players have accomplished on and off the court, and feels blessed by the many memories.

“I coached girls basketball for 33 years. I loved it and wouldn’t trade it for anything; I wouldn’t trade a single one of those years,” he said. “I think the kids taught me and enriched my life more than I could have theirs.”

- By Tim McGovern

Chanhassen Villager Sports Editor