John Winborn named Sandusky's new girls basketball coach

SANDUSKY — Sandusky High School has its new girls basketball varsity head coach. John Winborn will take over leading the Blue Streaks. His hiring was approved at a school board meeting Tuesday morning. "John is a respected member of our staff, a veteran," Sandusky athletic director Shawn Coakley said. "He's always been able to create buy-in with his kids. And he knows the game." Winborn most recently was Sandusky's freshman boys basketball coach for the past four seasons. He's also a paraprofessional at SHS. He takes over for Richard Koonce, who stepped down after the 2021-22 season for health reasons. "Sandusky is a great school district; it's treated me well," Winborn said. "It believes in me, not only as a coach but in my career in education." Winborn, 43, is a 1997 graduate of the now-closed Admiral King High School in Lorain. He played basketball and football in high school but never really expected to get into coaching. "Just getting into education and coaching, I kind of just stumbled upon it," Winborn said. "I got a job with Lorain City Schools through an after-school program and I loved it. A position came open in the youth leagues, Lincoln Elementary, and from there I started coaching. I think I was 21 years old when I started there." Winborn hasn't been a varsity head coach before, although he's spent much of the past 20 seasons coaching basketball at various levels, including JV boys head coaching positions at Lorain Southview, Admiral King and Lorain High School. "I just loved it from that point on and just wanted to give kids a good experience," Winborn said. When Sandusky's girls coaching position opened up, Winborn felt drawn to it. Not only had he always wanted to be a head coach, but he had built relationships while being in the school building that gave him an added comfort level. "Throughout my whole coaching career, being a head coach has always been the goal and dream of mine," Winborn said. "Just being there at Sandusky is what made it worth it. Being around the girls every day because I'm in the building, that's what helped, honestly. I figured it'd be an easy, seamless, smooth transition if I did get the job." The Blue Streaks went 7-14 during the 2021-22 season, including 3-9 in SBC Lake Division play. Sandusky graduated its starting backcourt of Myasia Matthews and Quincy Burchett. Rising seniors Emerie Morgan, Abbie Wade and Skyler Havens were key contributors. Ra'Kiya Collier had solid moments as a freshman, as did Niyanna Larkins as a sophomore. Maekayla Rameau ran the point effectively for the JV team and saw varsity minutes. "The younger girls coming up are a lot of fun," Winborn said. "We've got a lot of good leadership coming back with the older girls, some of the class that will now be seniors. It'll be a well-rounded group to work with. They're eager to learn on that foundation that Coach Koonce built." Winborn and his team have already gotten things underway since teams can get together in June. The Blue Streaks are having open gyms, and Winborn is getting to know his players better. Mostly, he's excited to lead his players, both on the court and off. "The best thing for me is when kids can look back 10, 15 years later and talk about how great of a time they had playing under me," Winborn said.