Ron Moschella's view of Boardman girls basketball games is very different from what it's been in the last 31 years, but the niche he's built in the program remains constant.
"I guess my role is to yell," said Moschella with a laugh.
Laughing now, but yelling is how many know him.
"I come from an Italian background," said Moschella. "I'm a hugger. I'm emotional. I cry when things go bad."
Self admitted, Moschella has been crying nearly every day since the end of November. Due to, what he calls, three important health issues, Moschella was forced to step down as the Spartans' head coach.
"It seems like something that was sort of taken away from you," said Moschella.
It is not the way anyone in the prep basketball world envisioned the end to one of the best careers the state of Ohio has seen. He's led the Spartans to two state semifinal appearances and surpassed 500 career victories in 2007, finishing with 573 career victories.
The games and the victories are not the things he misses most. It's the everyday time spent at practice that Moschella valued as a coach.
"You get close to kids when you're with them three to four hours a day."
His style is controversial. Moschella often made opposing fans uncomfortable with his aggressive, in-your-face approach he used with his players.
"When I do yell at them and people see I'm real vocal with them," said Moschella. "I think our kids know I always cared about them."
That's regardless of the final score. But even 31 years in the coaching profession couldn't prepare Moschella for the life lesson he would have to teach his extended family this season.
"Sometimes life isn't fair, and you have to do the right thing," said Moschella. "Sometimes it's not the thing you want to do, but you have to do the right thing, no matter what it is."
That is something Ron Moschella has been doing his whole life.
Moschella has not ruled out a return to the coaching ranks in some capacity; however, that all depends on the continued improvement of his health. For now, though, he'll continue to root on the Spartans from his seat just behind the bench.
