New Beavercreek girls basketball coach has legendary shoes to fill

SPORTS| May 26, 2021

By David Jablonski

Dayton Daily News

During the interview process, as he applied to be the head girls basketball coach at Beavercreek High School, Aric Seilhamer said, “If coach Zink built the Empire State Building, I just want to add a few floors.”

Ed Zink retired earlier this month after 46 seasons at Beavercreek. He won three state championships and is the winningest girls basketball coach in Ohio history. He hoped Seilhamer, his assistant for the last 10 seasons, would be considered for the job.

On Wednesday, Athletic Director Brad Pompos announced Seilhamer will be the next varsity girls basketball coach, pending school board approval.

“I’m obviously humbled, honored and extremely blessed,” Seilhamer said Thursday.

A 1996 Beavercreek graduate, Seilhamer, 44, has deep roots in the school system. He is currently a teacher at Ankeney Middle School and has taught in the system for 20 years. His dad William “Buzz” Seilhamer is a member of the school’s hall of fame. He was the head track coach for more than 30 years and coached Zink on the freshman boys basketball team in 1967.

Seilhamer’s high school basketball coach, Larry Holden, also coached with Zink at one time. Seilhamer learned how to lead a program from his dad, Zink and Holden.

“I got plenty of good education about values from what those people taught me about being a great teacher, great coach and great person,” Seilhamer said.

Seilhamer started coaching in 2001. He spent eight seasons leading the Beavercreek freshman boys basketball team and then worked as the varsity boys assistant coach before moving to Zink’s program in 2011.

Seilhamer said he learned about integrity and doing things the right way from Zink.

“He’s the most humble man I ever met,” Seilhamer said. “You talk about his state titles, he just brushes it off and gives all the credit to the kids and their parents. I never once heard him talk about himself.”

Zink coached Beavercreek to state championships in 1995, 2001 and 2003 and to three other final four appearances in 1991, 1994 and 1996. His career record is 810-277. He’s the only girls basketball coach in Ohio High School Athletic Association to win 800 games, and only two boys coaches have accomplished the feat.

“There’s a saying out there, something about how you’ve got to be an idiot to want to replace a legend,” Seilhamer said. “Of course, there’s a little bit of pressure. You want to make him and all the former players who have played for him proud.”

Beavercreek finished 10-14 last season and in fifth place in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. The players will start offseason workouts June 1.

“We have some seniors who have been a big part of our varsity team for a couple of years and some nice competent role players and some talented young players,” Seilhamer said. “I look forward to coaching them. The big challenge is getting some of these kids from different grade levels to mesh.”

https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/new-beavercreek-girls-basketball-coach-has-legendary-shoes-to-fill/YKKDHHXKEFALNCWSYPJ4KRLDNQ/