Getting 'the fever' back

Sometimes life throws a curve.

For Kent Zessin, that curve was a mild stroke that left him unable to continue his role and passion as Laurel Hill’s boys’ basketball coach.

“The doctors said it was in my best interest that I take it easy for awhile,” Zessin said.

“I couldn’t be that energetic like before. After what happened I took a step back and let Ronnie Smith take over.”

Following Zessin’s sudden health issue, Ronnie Smith took over the blue and white machine that we all know as the Hoboes.

It was a decision that was made at the last minute following Zessin’s situation.

Now, as the season is coming to a close in the next few weeks, Zessin is speaking on his intentions of returning to his role as coach and looking to the horizon as the Hoboes assistant baseball coach for another year.

He explained how he stepped past his problem and kept himself in the game constantly.

“I throw out notes to coach Smith all the time,” Zessin said.

“He ultimately has the final call of course, but I try to help him with any advice in any way I can, and he respects that.”

Zessin, being the veteran basketball coach, explained how after awhile he really started to miss what he called, “the fever.”

“I felt it inside me, the fever I mean,” Zessin said.

“My health is around 90 percent I’d say, but 100 isn’t far off, and over the break I really got to miss what I had to leave behind temporarily. I missed the kids, the court and mostly coaching the game.”

Even though Zessin’s 2007-08 basketball season was left on the bench, he still included himself in every way he could, with words of encouragement, words of belief in his team and even a strong outlook on their future this year.

“The more you can contribute, the better,” Zessin said.

“They had a tough schedule this year and they want to finish strong. I mean if you look at the numbers we were only off by a point here and there spanning over four games. That’s not something you can overlook.”

The Hoboes, who are currently 9-5, are heading to Paxton this Friday in one of their most important district games.

“Coach Smith is doing a great job taking over,” Zessin said.

“Paxton is a hard team to play, but he’s molded them into the players they can be. It’s never a far out game, it’s always close, always fast, and well played.”

And after all the dust settles for the season and the Hoboes retire their worn jerseys for another year, Zessin will reopen those lockers to revisit the game once again.

“I intend to come back next year,” Zessin said.

“It’s not final or in stone but I physically feel better and I want to come back. There’s only three of us (Zessin, Smith and Scott Varnum) who coach everything around here. I have to maintain my role and get back to helping the teams. I miss it.”