The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
MAYFIELD COACH RETIRES AFTER 50-YEAR CAREER
Bob Pacsi coached his final game Feb. 29. A 50-year career concluded when Mayfield fell to Mentor in a Division I sectional final. Pacsi retired following the end of the Wildcats’ season and, since, hasn’t taken much time to reflect.
For the first time since 1970, the Farrell, Pa., native has enjoyed a summer off to spend time with family, golf and relax however he chooses.
“It’s been a blessing because I’ve been able to do what I needed to do to do my job correctly,” Pacsi said, “or what I thought was correctly. That meant June was camps, summer leagues, July was getting ready with my own team. This is the first time, maybe in my life, I’ve gone on a vacation in June, not in August. That feels good, it really does.”
Pacsi spent 46 seasons of his career as a head basketball coach starting in 1971 at Kennedy Christian in Hermitage, Pa. The team advanced to the state final four during Pacsi’s first season — what turned out to be his only state basketball appearance. He made stops at Marion Harding and Trinity before he led Twinsburg’s basketball program for 26 seasons. There, he coached a future NBA champion in James Posey and led the Tigers to two district titles.
After Pacsi stepped down at Twinsburg in 2015, he joined the staff at Mayfield under Coach Kevin Niemczura. Two years later, Athletic Director Keith Leffler hired his fatherin-law to lead the boys basketball program.
Mayfield rebounded from a two-win season to go 19-6 in Pacsi’s first year. The Wildcats scuffled to a 9-14 record in 2018-19 before they went 14-10 and finished second in the Western Reserve Conference this year.
Pacsi, who retired from his guidance counselor position at Twinsburg two years ago, compiled 568 career wins. The ability to coach his son, son-in-law and have his wife, Fran, present from his first game at Kennedy Christian are part of what he’ll remember most about his career.
“I’ve had many good kids,” Pacsi said, “just bluecollar kids that worked hard. We weren’t always the most talented team, but we managed to be as competitive as we could be. I think that stands out.”
Leffler said he didn’t plan on Pacsi becoming the coach when he joined the staff five years ago. When the job opened, he was grateful to have a candidate with extensive experience nearby.
Above Mayfield’s success on the court, Leffler appreciated Pacsi’s efforts to help his student-athletes mature.
“Basketball is an outlet for that,” Leffler said. “You’re not going to find someone with 50 years of experience on the street. The three years that he’s been a head coach have been invaluable, aside from the success our teams have had.”
Mayfield graduated four starters from its roster in Michael Favazzo, Blake Martinich, Jack Kerver and
Gannon Rose. Still, Pacsi is confident he leaves the program in good shape. Hayden Nahra started on varsity as a sophomore and leads a young core that put together a successful JV season under assistant Will Brand.
Pacsi said he will most miss the preparation associated with his job, of putting together a game plan and watching his players execute it on the floor. But now his attention will turn to his grandchildren, namely watching granddaughter Gianna Leffler swim her senior high school season this winter.
“I’m happy with what I did, and I have not regretted it,” Pacsi said. “I’ve enjoyed the grandkids, I’ve enjoyed golfing a little bit more than I’ve done in the past.”