Rushford-Peterson Boys Basketball Coach Resigns
Another Minnesota coaching legend is calling it quits. After 33 years as the Head Coach of the Rushford-Peterson boys basketball team, Tom Vix made it official by announcing his resignation this week. Vix led the Trojans to state titles in 1989, 2005 and 2006 and two state runner-up finishes. His teams made 16 state tournament appearances including this past season. His career winning percentage of 75 percent is among the all-time best in Minnesota boys basketball.
Vix ends his career with a record of 684 wins and 229 losses. He was inducted into the Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and ranks sixth all-time in Minnesota for wins by a coach. Coach Vix was named the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Class A Boys Basketball Coach of the Year this past season and was also named Section 1A Coach of the Year.
Rushford-Peterson Superintendent Chuck Ehler says in a news release announcing Coach Vix's decision, "Coach Vix helped many student athletes become champions in life by leading by example and doing things the right way all the time, and in doing so, he has exemplified excellence in upholding our school motto, 'Always Our Best.' ".
Ehler also says in the release, "Coach Vix lived by the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Simon) and he always strived to live by his personal motto of 'What can I do today to make things better.' He was a difference maker and has left a lasting legacy at Rushford-Peterson Schools and the Minnesota State High School League."
In addition to his coaching duties, Vix taught chemistry and physics for 34 years.
This past season the Trojans finished with a 24-9 record losing in the first round of the state tournament in double overtime to Cass Lake-Bena 63-61.
Vix also coached baseball for five years and volleyball for two seasons. He was an assistant coach in boys basketball at Caledonia for a year and Houston for two years before being named the Rushford-Peterson Head Coach.
Speaking from my personal connections with Tom over the years he has always had time to do interviews when asked whether it be during the regular season or at the state tournament. I remember a number of years ago when the Goodhue Wildcats and Rushford-Peterson Trojans were both state ranked, and Goodhue traveled to Rushford for a game where the place was packed to the rafters. The game was a multiple-overtime contest. Before the game I'm visiting with Coach Vix in the hallway and just before I'm ready to start the tape recorder a gentleman approaches Coach Vix and he simply says, "this is not the time or the place." The gentleman promptly turned and walked the other way and we did our interview.