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Old-School Coach
won its division there last year, a
first for the team, “and the kids were
he clock is approaching 5:40
thrilled beyond belief,” Kaczander said.
a.m., and Rick Kaczander is on
Unfortunately, Farber wasn’t chosen
the phone with a reporter.
in an annual lottery to participate
It’s the best time for him to be
in the 2016 Yeshiva tournament, but
interviewed that day because he has
Kaczander hopes the team will travel
basketball practice at 6 a.m. and family to play the Fuchs Mizrachi School in
commitments later.
Shaker Heights, Ohio, this
Wait, basketball prac-
season.
tice at 6 a.m.? And it
Kaczander was a member
was a practice requested
of the inaugural group of
by the boys varsity bas-
Michigan Jewish Sports
ketball team he coaches
Foundation Pillars of
at Farber Hebrew Day
Excellence Award win-
School (formerly Akiva
ners in 2012. Winners are
Hebrew Day School) in
honored at the foundation’s
Southfield.
annual Michigan Jewish
The team practiced
Sports Hall of Fame induc-
the previous day, but it
tion ceremony.
Rick Kaczander
was looking at three days
“It’s a nice recognition. I
without practice before
certainly didn’t expect it,”
it played an exhibition game against
Kaczander said.
school alumni.
He was honored for his three
“So a few of the guys texted me and
decades as a high school basketball,
asked to have a practice,” Kaczander
football and softball coach and official
said. “I said fine, but they’d better be at that include officiating league and
the school by 5:55.”
state championship games.
Kaczander stepped down this year
In addition, Kaczander was the state
as athletic director at Farber after
squash doubles champion and singles
serving in that role since 2001. Matt
runner-up in 1981, and he was the
Gasparotto is now the A.D. Kaczander
assistant coach and coach for medal-
has coached the boys varsity basketball winning Detroit basketball teams
team since 2011. He’s also coaching
in the 1992 and 2005 JCC Maccabi
the Farber girls varsity basketball team Games.
this season.
“The kids keep me young,” said
MACCABI MEETINGS
Kaczander, 66. “I’ve known most of the Here’s a final reminder that important
boys and girls I’m coaching this year
information meetings for prospec-
since they were in kindergarten. I’ll
tive Detroit athletes and artists and
keep coaching on a year-to-year basis.” their parents for next summer’s JCC
Coaching at a small private school
Maccabi Games & ArtsFest will be held
has its challenges, Kaczander admits.
this month at the Jewish Community
“Sometimes it’s difficult for the kids
Center in West Bloomfield.
to get to practice because they have
Team sports meetings will be from
other activities or they need to study,”
1-2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, and 6-7 p.m.
he said. “And there’s not a lot of gym
Thursday, Dec. 15; individual sports
time available. That’s why we’re prac-
meetings will be from 2-3 p.m. Sunday,
ticing at 6 o’clock in the morning.”
Dec. 11, and 7-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec.
The advantages outweigh the chal-
15; ArtsFest meetings will be from 3-4
lenges.
p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, and 8-9 p.m.
“They’re good kids and I enjoy
Thursday, Dec. 15.
working with them even though they
It’s necessary to attend just one
want to play all the time in practice,
meeting. Coaches will be there, tryout/
and I’m an old-school guy who wants
audition schedules will be distributed
to focus on basics and fundamentals,”
and questions will be answered.
he said. “Plus, everyone at the school
Detroit will participate in Maccabi
has accepted me and supported me
Games held July 30-Aug. 4 in
even though I’m not an Orthodox Jew.” Birmingham, Ala., and Aug. 6-11 in
Farber plays basketball teams from
Miami, Fla. ArtsFest will be in Miami.
other private schools.
For more information, call (248)
A highlight most seasons for
432-5482 or send an email to
the boys varsity team is Yeshiva
jccmaccabi@jccdet.org.
University’s Red Saracheck Basketball
Tournament in New York City. Farber
Send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
Steve Stein | Contributing Writer
T
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