Sagester resigns as Tri-Village boys basketball coach

Josh Sagester, an ultra-successful boys high school basketball coach at Tri-Village, announced his resignation from that position on Wednesday.

That’s the second major head coaching hit for the Cross County Conference member that’s located in New Madison near the Indiana border. Earlier this spring Jason Schondelmyer resigned as the head football coach to return to Arcanum as the Trojans’ head football coach.

Sagester guided the Patriots for 13 seasons. The program evolved into a small-school power over the last five years, culminating with a Division IV boys state championship in 2015.

“For a long time I always said my family took a back seat; now it’s time for them to take a front seat,” he said.

That echoes a recurring sentiment among area football and basketball coaches who resign for similar reasons. The Sagesters have three pre-teen children who are all active in athletics. Sagester will remain as the Tri-Village Local Schools superintendent.

A Brookville graduate who also starred in basketball at Mercer (Ga.) University, Sagester compiled a 241-79 overall record and an astonishing 126-27 record in CCC games. His teams won five CCC championships, seven sectional titles, four of the last five district titles and advanced to the D-IV state final four in the 2013-14 season.

The state title team was 30-0 and defeated Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 48-46 on a last-second shot by tourney MVP Colton Linkous, a volunteer assistant for the Patriots last season. Tri-Village (19-8) ended this past season with a 49-42 loss to Cincinnati Christian in a D-IV regional semifinal at Fairmont’s Trent Arena.

Sagester said a hazing incident that rocked the community and program last season had no bearing on his resignation as coach. “That didn’t factor in at all,” he said. “It was solely a family decision.”

Sagester said a new head football coach will be announced at Monday night’s school board meeting.

“I’ll still be around, just not stomping on the sideline,” he said. “(His wife has) been a trooper for me for a long time. It’s time for me to step up and make sure I’m there (for their children) as well.”

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JOSH SAGESTER

What: 13 seasons as Tri-Village boys basketball coach.

241-79: Overall record

126-27: CCC record

7: sectional titles

4: district titles

2: regional titles

2: state final fours

1: D-IV state title, 2015

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