BILL GREEN HIGHLIGHTS
26: Seasons as Greeneview's head boys basketball coach.
Years: 1979-2000 and 2008-13.
OHC titles: Seven of the last 11 seasons.
2000: Division III state runner-up.
This season: 20-4.
Career record: 353-200.
The last time Bill Green stepped away from coaching, he returned to Greeneview to kick-start a proud boys high school basketball program. There won’t be another return.
“You have a different perspective the second time around,” said Green, who retired from coaching following the Rams’ exit from the postseason earlier this month.
“It was a lot of fun and we did some good things.”
Green, 60, said the coaching position will be offered within the school district for two weeks, then will be open to the public. He said that he isn’t aware of anyone who might be a strong contender. He’ll remain a physical education teacher at Greeneview.
A left-handed pitcher, Green was an outstanding baseball player and was inducted into the University of Dayton athletic hall of fame after setting several career marks with the Flyers. But it was basketball that would define his coaching career.
He played for coach Norm Ashworth and with Norm’s son, Doug Ashworth, on the Beavercreek team in 1970-71 that lost to Dunbar in a double-overtime district final.
Green’s first tenure as the Rams’ head coach was from 1979-2000. It included a 1987-88 season in which Greeneview was 21-0 before losing to Jefferson in a district final.
Green initially retired from coaching the Rams following the 1999-2000 season that ended with a 73-55 loss to Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the Division III state final. That also was LeBron James’ freshman season with the Irish.
“When I left it was basically for reasons that I wanted to spend time with my kids,” Green said. “I missed all that when I was coaching.”
Rocky Rockhold, a standout player at Greeneview for Green, succeeded him as the Rams head coach. After several league championship seasons, Rockhold left the Rams and eventually became head coach at Trotwood-Madison. Green replaced Rockhold for his second go with the Rams. He also had former Rams standouts Mark Combs and David Bradds as his assistants.
Greeneview quickly reestablished its D-III dominance, especially in the Ohio Heritage Conference. With Evan Bradds, Dave’s son, in the lineup, the Rams won the last three OHC titles. In his 26 seasons as the Rams coach, the team was first or second in the OHC and Southwest Rivers Conference 18 times.
Evan Bradds, a 6-foot-9 senior, averaged 23.1 points for Greeneview (20-4) this season. He was named first team All-Ohio and has signed to play at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn.
“It was a lot of fun these last five years,” reflected Green. “It’s a great community to coach in. It’s a basketball school. They love their basketball here.”
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