Albert Grindle
The Gazette
GRANGER TWP. — Mike Moser saw another opportunity to go home and took it.
The 37-year-old Wadsworth native and resident resigned this week as Highland girls basketball coach, ending a two-year run at Medina County’s most unstable program to make a second stint as an assistant to Grizzlies boys coach Mike Schmeltzer Jr.
Moser compiled a 28-18 record, including an 18-6 mark this season despite two-time All-Ohio center Marlee Profitt missing 12 games with a knee injury.
“To be honest with you, I’ve been praying about this for months on what the right thing to do was,” Moser said Friday. “I’ve done that after every season, reflecting back and things like that. I honestly think going over to Wadsworth and helping program over there is where God wants me right now.”
Moser was Wadsworth’s eighth-grade boys coach before taking over the Highland girls in June 2014. His former Grizzlies players now make up the core of the varsity, as seven sophomores lettered during a 5-18 rebuilding season.
The former Arena Football League kicker’s familiarity with the Grizzlies — he is a gym teacher at Wadsworth Middle School — was a factor, as was the opportunity to spend more time with his childen, Ben, 10, Natalie, 7, Andy, 5, and Sam, 3, and wife Ali.
Moser was Schmeltzer’s junior varsity coach from 2008-12.
“This is the right move for me to make at this time,” Moser said. “Obviously being a Wadsworth grad, teaching there and being a former player there, I coached the kids who are sophomores there in eighth grade, so I have a good relationship with those kids as well.”
Moser took over a Hornets program that went 7-16 in 2012-13. Highland went 10-12 in his first season before flirting with the Suburban League American Division championship this winter. The 18 wins were the most by a Hornets team since 1992.
Along the way, Moser became close with his players, who embraced his positive approach.
“I have no regrets whatsoever,” Moser said. “I had a great experience and have nothing but positives to say about Highland. I was treated incredibly well, all the way from administration to the parents, and I have amazing relationships with the kids.
“That’s what makes it really, really hard. Those kids are an extension of my family, and I look at all of those kids as my daughters. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done as far as coaching goes.”
Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.