More than a decade ago, Rich Kessler was a football coach.
Then, after a little push from his brother Chris, Rich became a softball coach.
Now, in 2016, not only is Rich Kessler coaching softball but he led Bangor to its most successful season in history.
"My brother's an assistant coach and we've been together for 13 years coaching softball," Kessler said. "I actually wouldn't even be coaching if it wasn't for him. I coached football for years. When the kids were little, they needed somebody to coach the team. And I said, 'well, I'm really not interested in coaching softball.' But he coaxed me into doing it and I really found a love for the game. I'm glad that he did that. We've been working together for a long time. We've never argued about anything. We don't fight about anything. It's just a perfect thing."
"He's a great guy. I can't say enough good things about him," Rich Kessler added about his brother. "I'm getting choked up talking about it. He's a great guy. We're really close. I'm happy that he's my brother."
For listening to his brother more than a decade ago and for leading the Slaters to a special season this spring, Kessler is the 2016 lehighvalleylive Softball Coach of the Year.
The family connection doesn't stop there for Bangor, which won the Colonial League, District 11 Class AAA championship and its first ever state playoff game this season.
Along with his brother being on the staff, so is his and Chris' dad Richard Kessler, or "Pops" as the Slaters players call him.
"My dad's been around a long time too. He coached Babe Ruth baseball, little league baseball. He came on with us probably 10 or 11 years ago. He's great. Kids love him," Rich Kessler said.
Chris Kessler's twin daughters Lexi and Nikki both started for Bangor this season. Rich's daughter Ashley played for the junior varsity team this spring.
The Kessler brothers started out coaching rec ball and then the tournament organization the Blue Valley Mountain Lions, who have gone from having trouble fielding a team to now more than 60 players that make up five teams at different levels.
Rich Kessler and his staff completed their third season at Bangor this spring.
"We just transitioned into high school then. The job became open, I put my name in and we got the job," Kessler said.
Bangor's last winning season before Kessler and company arrived was in 2008 when the Slaters won the District 11 Class AAAA title. In his first season in 2013, Bangor won the Colonial League title. After back-to-back losses in the district semifinals, the Slaters were able to beat defending state champion Bethlehem Catholic 6-4 to win the District 11 Class AAA title this season.
"We came in and told everybody that nobody was entitled to anything. If they wanted to play, they had to put the effort out and they had to win the position. Not just in the beginning of the year but they had to earn that position throughout the year. It just makes the kids work harder and come together closer. Everything worked out well for us," Kessler said about how they were able to build a district champion in three years.
The 52-year-old has lived in Roseto with his wife Valerie since 1988. Along with Ashley, they have two other children, 29-year-old Richie and 25-year-old Rashelle. Richie was a state qualifier for Pius X in wrestling and later was an assistant football coach at Pius X and Notre Dame. Rich and Valerie also have a 4-year-old grandson named Ryker.
Rich Kessler graduated from Bangor in 1982 and played football for coach Paul Farnan. He went on to serve as an assistant under Farnan from 1995 to 2000.
"He's a great coach. Great mentor," Kessler said of the longtime Slaters coach. "I do a lot of things after what he taught me. A lot of things he used to say, I say them. That's why we do the signs because that's what we did when I played football for him."
The signs refer to an exercise the Slaters have done at the beginning of the last two seasons. Each senior makes a sign with their favorite quote or with what it means to them to be part of the team.
"It kind of forces that senior to get up in front of everybody and express how they feel and what their favorite quote is. It just makes them work harder because they have to back up what they put down on paper," Kessler said.
"I believe that our quote tradition is very motivational for the team," senior third baseman Allison Phillips said. "We do it in the beginning of our season when everyone needs to refocus on softball and it brings the team together and helps us set our goals for the season. I would like to see that tradition continue in the next seasons."
Dennis Suranofsky, Wayne Groller, Bob Hess and former Slaters catcher Kailey Smith round out the Bangor varsity staff. The JV team, which was undefeated this spring, was led by head coach Jen Denaro and assistants Brianna Fraunfelter and James Denaro.
Kessler, who finished his football coaching days as an assistant at Pius X from 2001 to 2008, has found success coaching softball without being the most vocal motivator.
"I think that Coach Kessler is successful because he is patient with the team. He is very soft spoken and knows how to play the game and work the other teams. Whether it is with our batting and base running or plays in the field, he has a strategy for it all," Phillips said.
Strategy that helped produce a history-making season for the Slaters.
"Playing for Coach Kessler was a great experience. He was able to take a talented group of girls and bring out their competitiveness and passion for softball to the next level," Phillips said.
Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.
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