Boys basketball coach has 212 career victories
By: Mike Molaro
Victories and statistics never meant much to Bernie Gurick. Never did and never will.
So it should come as no surprise that the veteran Pennington School boys basketball coach didn’t know that he won his 200th career game until two months after the 45-38 triumph over Solomon Schechter in the 2002 Prep B state tournament quarterfinals.
"(Pennington athletic director) Dean Waters told me after the 2001-2002 season," the 40-year-old Gurick said. "He didn’t know either until he went through the record books.
"That is a great milestone. It means that I’ve had the privilege of coaching some great players, work with some great coaches and do it a school like Pennington that has the same kind of standards that I do."
Gurick, who replaced Waters at the start of the 1989-90 season when Waters accepted the position of athletic director, earned the first of his 212 career wins as the Red Raiders topped Lakewood 72-56 at home in his first game as a varsity head coach on his 26th birthday.
"When I look back, one of the best things about the 200 wins is having the opportunity to do it at such a young age," Gurick said. "Dean (Waters) showed a lot of confidence in me in selecting me to be a head coach at 26."
Gurick, who has averaged more than 15 wins a year in his 14 years on the Red Raider bench, brought home the first of his three Prep B titles in his rookie season as that 1989-90 squad went 23-7 and ran the table in the postseason.
He also coached back-to-back state championship teams in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, was named area Coach of the Year three times by the two local daily newspapers and was the Newark Star Ledger’s 2000-2001 Prep Coach of the Year.
What makes those accomplishments even more extraordinary is the fact that Gurick has coached just three players taller than 6-foot-5 in those 14 years.
Flashy, behind-the-back passes don’t score on his report card and draining 3-pointers isn’t high on his requirements list. What counts most is character and heart.
"I don’t look at a player for his ability but for his work ethic," added Gurick, who just completed his 18th year as a middle-school math teacher at Pennington. "Give me a bunch of guys who will work their tails off. That’s who I want to coach.
"Academics are most important. I thought that then and I still think that now. I don’t care about the wins. I want to develop the kids. The kids always work hard and hit the books; that’s what you want. If you’re only interested in wins, and you’re coaching basketball, you’re in the wrong profession."
The names change, but the players wearing the Red Raider red and black understand that Gurick’s program isn’t about individual glory. It’s about working as a unit and sacrificing personal talents for team success.
"As a coach, I want to instill a philosophy of hard work," Gurick said. "I want the guys to improve throughout the year, both individually and as a team. I only have them for a maximum of four years. Hopefully, what they learn from playing Pennington basketball helps them in the future."
During his 14 years, Gurick as he said has had the opportunity to coach players who personify Pennington basketball. His "All-Gurick Team" features a starting five of guards Michael Stout and Brian Wynder, center Grant Billmeier and forwards Maurice Hallett and Chris Adams. Coming off the bench are David Millstein, Ryan Fesko, Steve Elliott fatally injured in a recent auto accident and James Buchanan, the "heart and soul of our 2001 championship team."
Gurick points to speaking at Elliott’s funeral as "the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do as a coach."
Coaching basketball and teaching math are two pieces of the picture. The third "his family" represents the largest piece.
Gurick and his wife of 16 years, Melissa, are the proud parents of 9-year-old Carly, who has been swimming with the Hamilton Aquatics for about a year, and six-year-old Andrew, who is finding his stroke on the baseball diamond.
"My kids are the world to me," added Gurick. "I’m more proud of my kids than anything I’ve done as a basketball coach. I’ve been blessed with two great kids. They are more important than all my wins.
"My marriage to Melissa and the birth of my kids are the best things that happened to me. My family is my pride and joy."
Gurick took losing to heart early in his career and often brought the losses home. His family has given him a fresh outlook on what is important.
"In the beginning, I was down after a hard loss," he said. "It was tough on Missy because often times I wasn’t there mentally. I was still replaying the game in my mind. I took losses a lot more to heart when I was younger.
"Now, the kids jump up in your lap after a loss and everything is okay. Carly and Andrew make me understand what coaching is all about. They help me put things in perspective."
Gurick decided during his sophomore year at Gloucester High School that he wanted to be a teacher. He has similar passion, expectations and methods, whether it’s on the basketball court or in the classroom.
"I try to bring a philosophy to the students that they can do it and have them believe in themselves," Gurick said. "Once they believe they can do the work, it’s easier to work with them.
"I got into teaching because I wanted to make a difference. I still try to do this."
He’s definitely making a difference in the classroom, as Gurick was the recipient of The Pennington School 2003 Henry and Selma Otte Teacher of the Year Award.
"Next to the birth of Carly and Andrew, this is the best thing that happened to me," added Gurick. "When the senior class stood up and applauded, I broke down."
Gurick isn’t afraid to wear his emotions on his sleeve especially when it comes to his family.
"When it’s all said and done, I want to be remembered as a great dad," he said. "That’s the most important thing to me. I want people to say that he put his kids above everything else, and that he did all he could for his family."
Gurick didn’t have a specific time table in mind when he accepted the Red Raider coaching position 14 seasons ago. He still doesn’t.
"As long as I’m excited about coaching and teaching the kids, I’m going to keep doing it," Gurick said. "I get excited when one of my players gets accepted to college. That’s why you do it."
With his 212 career victories behind him and a new group of Red Raiders ready to make its own history, Gurick wants to let future opponents know that he has no intentions of slowing down.
"I’m not done winning yet," he said.
And he’ll keep doing it the only way he knows how.