Kyle Clair reaches 200 career victories at Woodmore

Press Sports Editor
sports@presspublications.com

Coach Kyle Clair is about as synonymous with Woodmore girls basketball as anyone.
Clair, a Wildcat alum, recently won his 200th game in Woodmore’s 68-18 victory over St. Joseph Central Catholic, the achievement is symbolic of his longevity and success with a program he has led for 15 years. In a world where coaches come and go, Clair has stayed put and built a foundation that’s endured for some time.
The Wildcats are currently 19-3 and 13-1 in the Northern Buckeye Conference, good enough to win the league for the second time in three years. Overall, Clair holds a career record of 203-143 (.587) and his teams have won seven sectional titles.
“It means a lot to me because I graduated from Woodmore. I grew up in the community, played basketball and have been around the game for a long time,” said Clair, who graduated in 1996. “To be able to do it here with a lot of people that I know is special. There’s a loyalty aspect to being around for the kids, and when they have some consistency with the coaching, it can lead to success. It just means a lot overall.”
Assistant coach Brad Hemminger, who has been with Clair for eight seasons, echoed those sentiments.
“I think it’s very special for him (to win at Woodmore). I believe he first coached at St. Joe’s, and I think he came over to Woodmore pretty early,” said Hemminger. “I think it’s a great situation to win where you went to high school because I think it means a little bit more — you’ve been a part of those two things, the school and the community.”
The community has also welcomed Hemminger, who previously coached for the better part of two decades at Oak Harbor, both as a head coach and as an assistant.
“I absolutely loved my time at Oak Harbor, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said. “Woodmore has also been great; the community is so supportive and friendly, and the kids are fantastic. I never thought I would enjoy coaching at a place as much as I did at Oak Harbor, but Woodmore has given me the same experience.”
Two Wildcats have been named NBC Player of the Year — Macey Bauder (2023) and Brooke Allen (2021). They, along with Allie Wank, are among the best that have played for Clair.
“Definitely those three. There are so many to name, I could go on and on. Megan Bitter was a good player for me – she was a foundational part of how things started there. (And) Andrea Bolden, Kalyn Sandwisch, Jordan Nighswander and Mackenzie Johnson, who coaches for me,” said Clair. “When somebody tells you that you have 200 wins, you think of all the great people that came through – the great student-athletes that I’ve gotten to know and as well as their families. It’s great to reflect on all that stuff, the different personalities.”
Two games stand out to Clair, personifying what his program is about.
In 2019, the Wildcats, seeded sixth in the Division III Millbury District, upset No. 2 Eastwood 54-53 in the district semifinals. In the win over the Eagles, Allen scored 20 points and Nora LaMunyon finished with 13 points.
Two years later, Woodmore beat Elmwood on the road, 47-38, to tie the Royals for first in the NBC late in the season as both teams tied for the league championship at 12-2. It was the first NBC championship for the Wildcats. In the win, Allen led the way again with 19 points, Camryn Ivy scored 10 and Bauder chipped in with nine.
“The Eastwood game at Lake was definitely a game I remember. I remember walking into that gym, and that place was packed — that was probably one of the best basketball environments I’ve seen,” said Clair. “I remember the times where we cut down nets; our first (league) championship with Brooke Allen. Kalyn Sandwich hit a game-winner at Otsego (after) we called a timeout and drew up a play.
“I love coaching against Joe (Nowak) at Lake. There have been a lot of great battles with Eastwood, Genoa and Elmwood. The game at Elmwood, two years ago, when we had to win to stay in the league race was one I remember vividly,” he said.
Clair talked about the bond he has with his assistants, which includes Ryan Beam, now in his sixth year on the staff.
“The first word that comes to mind is trust. I learn a lot from them, I value their opinions. We text each other when something comes to mind. I know I can go to them; we’ll talk it out. The amount of basketball knowledge that Ryan and Brad have, being able to tap into that, I hope the girls appreciate what we have there. It’s a vast amount of knowledge,” said Clair. “I can never learn fully and it’s a great gift to be able to have them. They don’t ask for anything – they do it because they love the game and enjoy being with the kids. We hit the lottery with them. I hope they stay with us.
“I’ve been super lucky (with my assistants). Nowadays, coaching turnaround is pretty high. We’ve had players come back and coach for us. Kalyn Sandwisch was with me for close to 10 years, and Sarah Lemke was with me for a long time. We’ve had a lot of coaches who have been connected and are invested for the kids. There’s loyalty, and they want to see the program grow and get better.”
Clair graduated from the University of Toledo in 2001 and coached the boys JV team at SJCC for three years before taking the girls JV job at Woodmore for four years. Then he was promoted to head coach.
“(SJCC coach) Mike Gabel hired me right out of college. He was super influential; he had a well-established program – I picked up nuances from him,” said Clair. “I spent some time working with the women’s program at UT. (Former girls basketball coach) Mark Ehlen, I saw how he led his players, kept their attention and the respect they gave him. My coaches going through high school — Jude Meyers and Don Christie — were influences in one way, shape or form. I would talk to Mike DeStazio a lot, he helped me get my foot in the door at Woodmore. And I can’t forget Aaron Clouse.”
This is the Wildcats’ last season in the NBC as they’ll be moving on to the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division.
“We have to keep doing what we’re doing. There’s a certain way in which you have to evolve, a different dynamic; the kids mature and develop their game in certain ways. At the foundation, what’s been working is stability, discipline – kind of what to expect and (being) respectful of our rules,” said Clair. “I like where the program is. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing and use that as the foundation of what we know and what we’ve been taught.
“I’d like to think our program has been respected, and I hope it stays that way,” he said.