Dave Schlabach’s experience during his Lady Hawks win over Ridgewood Saturday, Feb. 8 was anything but business as usual.

Yes, his Lady Hawks rolled to victory over Ridgewood as expected, but it wasn’t the action on the floor during the 32 minutes that made this day special, but rather what took place moments before the teams gathered at center circle for the opening tip-off.

Schlabach caught a glimpse of two of his former players in the lobby of the Perry Reese Community Center and chatted with them before going to do what he has done so many times before in preparing for a game.

He never once thought that there would be any reason his two star guards from the 2005 and 2006 State championship teams would be there, other than to come back to watch their alma mater.

Little did he realize that there were close to two dozen former Lady Hawks waiting in the wings to celebrate his accomplishment of 500 wins, which took place Feb. 4 versus Newcomerstown.

Assistant coach David Borter, Hiland athletic director Art Yoder and others had secretly assembled the all-star cast of players, who walked out to center court before the varsity game, along with the current crop of varsity and junior varsity Lady Hawks, to honor Schlabach for his amazing feat.

He received a plaque and plenty of hugs from players who have helped him get to this monumental place in OHSAA girls basketball history.

No, scratch that, in any state, and any gender’s basketball history.

How big of a deal is 500 wins? Hiland’s girls teams have been playing since the 1968-1969 season. In the 23 seasons before Schlabach took over, six former Lady Hawks coaches led the team to 216 victories. In that same time span, Schlabach has fashioned 500 and counting.

To get to that plateau, Schlabach’s teams had to win close to 23 games per season, a number many schools would like to attain just once.

His accomplishments include four state titles. He has been instrumental in guiding Hiland to a State girls record 13 State tournament appearances and has built Hiland into one of the most respected programs in the state.

Yet all of the accolades, awards, records and wins don’t mean as much to him as he once thought they would.

More important was seeing all of the players united behind him as Mark Lonsinger spoke warmly about his score-plus-three-year tenure at the helm of the Lady Hawks program.

“Even standing out there, you quickly start to recollect on those players and how good they were, and how hard they worked for us,” said Schlabach. “They were the ones who invested a lot and helped build this program into what it is today, and they have helped give our kids today an opportunity for some pretty special things.”

It was a very surprising and emotional time for Schlabach, who is normally very stoic. Yet the surprise of the moment combined with the joy of seeing so many people who have meant so much to him over the years had Schlabach wiping away tears at times.

“Just a lot of great memories out there,” said Schlabach. “It was emotional. Sometimes we get caught up in the wins and losses, and how you played, but that kind of stuff flies by. What really matters the most is all of the relationships which we have built over the years. It has been relationships between players, coaches and fans. Those relationships mean everything now.”

Jill (Yoder) Miller, who attended Wheeling Jesuit University, was part of Schlabach’s 2000 championship team, the first Hiland girls team to ever win a State title.

“He has taught us so many great things, both on and off the court,” said Miller. “It goes so much more than basketball. Now that we are older, you appreciate what we learned a lot more. There are little things about the games that you remember, especially the State champions. But most of all it is the relationships, off the court almost more than the ones you spent on it. They (players and coaches) are almost as much a part of your family as your family.”

As a youngster coming up through the ranks in the mid-1990s, Julie (Weaver) Fernandez suffered through what seemed like perpetual knee injuries. However, she persevered, became a two-time All-Ohioan and was part of the Lady Hawks teams which helped begin Schlabach’s assault on Columbus.

“There was nothing easy about practices and playing basketball at Hiland, but that is what made it so valuable and so worth all of the pain I went through,” said Fernandez. “He made a lot of sacrifices just to help build character and work ethic in his players.”

Lindsey (Stuckey) Stutzman was a huge part of the back-to-back State titles in 2005-2006. The 2006 Div. IV Player of the Year looks back fondly on her years as a Lady Hawk, and knows that the things she learned from Schlabach were instrumental in her life, and in her becoming a dentist.

“I love seeing the teammates again today,” said Stuckey. “The relationships, that is what this is really all about. I remember Krista Beechy and I just tackling each other in practice every day. We had some great tournament runs, and Coach made that all possible. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to come here today and honor Coach like this.”

She said that the hard work and dedication that Schlabach exhibited rubbed off on all of the players, and that has served her well throughout her life.

“I think more than anything, all of those years playing ball helped me see the value of working through things that maybe aren’t the most enjoyable things in the world to get what you want is invaluable. And doing it the right way. Coach taught us that all the way up through, and it was something he ingrained in us.”

The hugs, the stories shared, the memories re-ignited made for a most memorable time for both players and coach.

How many more games will accumulate in the win column will only be determined by how long Schlabach chooses to remain at the helm of the Lady Hawks program.

For now, he is quite content building more relationships as the wins keep piling up.