Chuck Kriston never met a sport coat that he liked.
Which was evidenced by how many and how fast he threw them into crowds when he was coaching basketball.
While sport coats may have drawn his ire (and probably a few referees), the memories of a lifetime of accomplishments is the topic of all as his passing is noted and his life celebrated.
He was a family man, and that includes; North Montgomery, the Cubs, Valpo, the Cubs (again) and many others.
A Valpo native, Kriston stayed at home and went to Valparaiso for college and is a member of the University Hall of Fame, having played baseball, and starring in basketball. He also was on the track team for a stretch.
His basketball abilities got him a tryout with the Boston Celtics, and was the last guy cut. Kriston also developed a friendship with NBA Hall of Famer Bob Cousy.
Military duties followed, and then it was into coaching and education the rest of his working life.
Starting at North Knox, Kriston then went to Seeger, and from there, he landed at North Montgomery as the first basketball coach at the newly organized school.
He went 18-4 his first season, won three conference titles, four sectional crowns and gathered 109 wins. He then became the Athletic Director, much to the relief of his tailor.
It was 19 years as AD, which included two state football championships.
From there, it was 16 years as a teacher’s aide to his wife Teresa. In 2015, they both retired.
“Chuck was a great man whom I looked up to and deeply respected,” said current North Montgomery AD Matt Merica. “His impact on North Montgomery athletics will never be forgotten. As the school’s first basketball coach and one of only four Athletic Directors in North Montgomery history, he helped build the foundation of the athletic program. His leadership, dedication and commitment to students, athletes, faculty, staff and community created a lasting legacy of Chargers Athletics.”
Charley German, who coached those two state champions, noted some qualities in his boss.
“Three words describe Chuck Kriston for me — perfectionist, loyal and workaholic,” German said.
“There was never a blade of grass out of place [at the football complex]. We had the best field in the state, and it was due to Chuck. He hand-watered the field and the practice fields, he lined the field and took care of everything. He was not an office guy — he took care of all the facilities.”
“He was loyal to his coaches. Nothing ever got outside the building. We had our disagreements, of course, but he always handled everything in the best way possible, and he always had our (coaches) backs. When he retired in 1999 and I took over as AD, he left everything in perfect order.”
“His work ethic was second to none. He was the first person on the scene every day and he was the last guy locking the doors. We had so many details with the two runs to the football championships, and Chuck took care of every detail. All I had to do was coach the team. He was always so meticulous. I just want to send my family’s condolences to Chuck’s family. We lost a mentor and a friend.”
Former players and opposing coaches also recalled Coach.
“I was fortunate to play for Coach for three special years at a time when Hoosier hysteria was high,” Tom Price said. “My senior year team in 1979/80 included some close-knit guys who simply loved to play hoops. We were not the biggest, the fastest nor the most athletic, but Coach knew exactly how to get the very most out of our abilities. We loved playing for Coach. We had the utmost respect for him, and he instilled a sense of confidence in us. His teams were a testament that playing hard, fundamental, and unselfish basketball would always give you a chance to win. Like my teammates, my fondest, yet bittersweet, memory was the regional championship game in 1980. This was also Coach’s last game. A win would send us to the semi-state. Although we lost in overtime in one of the biggest games in NMHS basketball history, Coach had put us in a position to win the game. That year was special. Thanks goes out again to Coach, for all that he did for NMHS basketball and for being a positive influence in my life. Condolences and thoughts go out to his family in his memory.”
Stu Weliever also played for Kriston.
“Coach was more Bob Knight than John Wooden,” he noted. “He had a bit of a reputation of having a fiery personality and I recall him getting T’ed up a few times.
“North started out in the Wabash River Conference but jumped to the Sagamore Conference by the time I played. Brownsburg, Noblesville, Frankfort, Lebanon, C’ville was stiff competition. Coach played a motion offense — pass and pick away was the mantra with lots of cross screens in the lane. The entire North family I know extends condolences to Chuck’s family.”
Coaches noted that fire and intensity as well.
“Chuck was an outstanding basketball coach — teams were well coached and his record speaks for itself,” Ron Hendricks said. “I was at North Montgomery when Chuck was athletic director. He was an outstanding director and ran a first-class program and the teams were always excellent. I always enjoyed my relationship with Chuck both on and off the court. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
Bruce Rush was a member of the last team that Kriston coached.
“Looking back 45 years to when I was lucky enough to have played for a coach like Chuck, I think of how big of influence he had on my career in management at FedEx,” he said. “Chuck taught me how to be a leader, how to hold people accountable and to coach my team to achieve and perform at a high level in pressure situations. Class act is what I think of when someone talks about Coach. I just wish our 1980 team could have gotten him a much-deserved trip to Mackey for the semi-state. I am not ashamed to say other than my father and father-in-law Chuck Kriston had the most impact on me being the man I am today, and I want to extend my condolences to Chuck’s family He was truly a great man.”
So there was Chuck Kriston the coach, AD.
There was also that Cubs fan mentioned earlier, and there is no accurate count on the number of Cubs games that he got to.
And it was always with others. Sometimes family — lots of times a van full of friends. There weren’t as many trips lately, but his beloved Cubbies were always on the TV screen at game time.
There was also his circle of friends known as the Coaches Corner.
A founding member of Corner, as it is still affectionately known, Kriston was the treasurer, and in later years, was the popcorn maker, running the microwave out of electrons a few times.
Fred Johnson and Frank Stewart are also founding fathers of the group, which has grown through the years and takes in honorary members all the time.
Johnson’s connection went back to college.
“I got to see Chuck play with Valpo when I was at DePauw,” he said. “He earned that Hall of Fame honor.”
“I was at Waynetown when he came to North, and we taught drivers ed together one summer.”
Johnson also covered the Chargers with WCVL radio, along with Bill Schlicher, and that is how Big Bill became a founding member of the Corner.
And, there were lots and lots of trips to Cubs game.
“Sometimes Chuck would invite more guys to a Cubs game than would fit in his van,” Stewart said, “So he just went two days in a row. Everyone got to go.”
Stewart and Gerald (George) Pruett were founding fathers as well, with Kriston, Schlicher and Johnson. They noted at the most recent Corner meeting (last Wednesday — they meet weekly) that Dick Walke missed the first couple meetings so he didn’t make founders status.
That last meeting was also highlighted by having Kriston’s son Tony and Schlicher’s son Blair attend to share some laughs. They also talked about how long the group has been meeting.
“Since about ‘73/’74,” Johnson said. “We’ve met at gas stations, hotel bars, bed and breakfasts, and sheds,” Stewart said.
Kimberly Francis was the Corner hostess for a lot of nights, as the meetings started out as monthly get-togethers and then morphed into twice a month, and finally weekly.
“Those coaches and guys were some of the first ‘regulars’ I had when I started bartending 26 years ago,” Francis said. “Chuck and all the guys became family. Even after they moved out of the Holiday Inn, they always invited and included me like I was one of the gang. Chuck was always the quiet one, which made him the most dangerous one. His smile could light up a room, and he always had a smile for me. He and all the guys were always asking about my family, and their stories over the years were just so great. I love him and all of them to pieces.”
Pat McDowell, the first Chargers’ football coach while Kriston was running hoops, and also a long-standing Corner member, said that the two coaches had an early meeting about sharing athletes.
“There were some really good basketball guys on the football team,” McDowell noted, “and some good football guys playing hoops, so I needed to ask Chuck about guys playing both. I knew I was very OK with it, and when I asked him, he said that if the basketball guys weren’t playing football, then there were going to run cross country.”
“Chuck said ‘they are going to show up for basketball in shape!’”
When asked to talk about his Dad, Tony talked about all those families, from family at home to school to Cubs and trips and to Coaches Corner.
“Anyone who knew Dad knew he was a perfectionist when it came to maintaining the high school athletic fields,” the younger Kriston said, “and he held his own yard to the same standard. He had one of the best-manicured lawns in the county, probably because he never let us kids use the mower, and his wife Teresa couldn’t mow straight lines. And if any one of us kids rode a bike through the yard and left marks, we’ll just say there was a stern talking to.”
“He loved traveling to support his children and grandchildren in whatever they were doing, no matter where it took him. Whether they were performing on a Disney Cruise ship, appearing in a theater in another town, or playing sports, he was always there.”
“He had friends everywhere, and he loved doing things with those friends and especially his family.”
Chuck Kriston — maybe not first in war or peace, but certainly first in the hearts of his family and friends.
