MONROE - One common thread new Monroe High School softball coach Joe O'Leksy has with his predecessor, Hall of Fame coach Dale Buvid, is winning.
O'Leksy coached the Monroe junior varsity softball team for 21 years and racked up 338 wins. Buvid posted a 505-236 mark in 33 seasons coaching and is the third all-time winningest softball coach in the history of Wisconsin. Buvid guided the Cheesemakers to seven WIAA state tournament appearances, a state championship in 2003, four state runner-up finishes and 11 conference titles.
Now, O'Leksy will be embark on his first year as the head varsity coach after Buvid retired. He has big shoes to fill, but the longtime JV coach has enjoyed a successful stint in coaching. Now, more community members will get the chance to see O'Leksy do it at the varsity level.
"I'm excited to do it," O'Leksy said. "I've worked under a Hall of Fame coach in Dale Buvid for 21 years. I feel comfortable, and I've had a very good mentor. I want to carry on the tradition of winning softball at Monroe. The goal is always to win conference and go to state. That is what we do here."
Times sports reporter Mark Nesbitt sat down with O'Leksy to talk to him about his coaching style, philosophy for building Monroe's program, upcoming season and changes in the program.
What lesson did you learn from former Monroe and Hall of Fame coach Dale Buvid that you think will help you the most this season?
Being prepared. Having very detailed and skill-directed practices. Coach Buvid and I are a lot alike. We both want to have our kids prepared before a game. The expectations are always high. The kids know that and will hopefully live up to those.
What is the biggest adjustment coaching varsity now compared to JV the last 21 seasons?
I think as far as moving from JV to varsity the practices are pretty much the same. Our varsity and JV practices have mirrored each other for the past 21 years. ... The biggest thing is the more responsibilities. Now I'm responsible for scheduling, fundraisers and organizing events. We have to make sure we do the three things: pitching, catching and hitting. If we hammer the fundamentals and if we do those three things we should have a lot of success.
What is your most memorable coaching moment?
The day on JV when we played DeForest when they were still in our conference and Amy Buvid was pitching. She pitched 22 innings in two games that went extra innings and we won both ofd them. It was amazing that she was able to do that. My brightest moment was when my daughter (Taylor O'Leksy) played in the state tournament in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013. I can still can picture her up to hit against Baldwin-Woodville.
You attended a University of Wisconsin Softball Coaches clinic recently in the Wisconsin Dells. What did you learn from that clinic that you may implement this season?
I learned a lot from Heather Compton's pitching sessions. She's a two-time NCAA champion pitcher from UCLA, a member of Team USA, played professional women's fastpitch and has been a pitching coach at Florida and Florida State. I think 75 percent of softball is pitching. She did a great job of teaching the basics of pitching and what it takes to be a successful pitcher. I will bring back and implement some drills like "Around the World" in infield practice from Cindy Bristow who coached softball at Arizona State, New Mexico State and Wichita State. It really helps the kids stay engaged in practice and thinking about where they are throwing.
Monroe's run of three straight Badger South Conference championships was snapped last year. What will it take for Monroe to get back on top in the conference?
The team that will be at the forefront in our conference is Fort Atkinson. They probably have the best hitter in the conference in Morgan Dunkleberger. We have a girl coming in Olivia Bobak who throws very hard. Hopefully, our young pitchers will allow us an opportunity to win the conference. We probably have two of the better or maybe the best two pitchers in the conference. With our pitching we have an opportunity to finish in the top three in the conference.
What changes if any will you make to the Monroe softball program this year?
All of the things Dale Buvid did with the youth program and Park and Rec will continue. On April 1 and April 2 we will have a hitting, fielding and pitching clinic at the high school. We are planning a coaches clinic in the summer for parents who help coach softball in the summer. That way they can learn some of our drills and know what are expectations are.
O'Leksy coached the Monroe junior varsity softball team for 21 years and racked up 338 wins. Buvid posted a 505-236 mark in 33 seasons coaching and is the third all-time winningest softball coach in the history of Wisconsin. Buvid guided the Cheesemakers to seven WIAA state tournament appearances, a state championship in 2003, four state runner-up finishes and 11 conference titles.
Now, O'Leksy will be embark on his first year as the head varsity coach after Buvid retired. He has big shoes to fill, but the longtime JV coach has enjoyed a successful stint in coaching. Now, more community members will get the chance to see O'Leksy do it at the varsity level.
"I'm excited to do it," O'Leksy said. "I've worked under a Hall of Fame coach in Dale Buvid for 21 years. I feel comfortable, and I've had a very good mentor. I want to carry on the tradition of winning softball at Monroe. The goal is always to win conference and go to state. That is what we do here."
Times sports reporter Mark Nesbitt sat down with O'Leksy to talk to him about his coaching style, philosophy for building Monroe's program, upcoming season and changes in the program.
What lesson did you learn from former Monroe and Hall of Fame coach Dale Buvid that you think will help you the most this season?
Being prepared. Having very detailed and skill-directed practices. Coach Buvid and I are a lot alike. We both want to have our kids prepared before a game. The expectations are always high. The kids know that and will hopefully live up to those.
What is the biggest adjustment coaching varsity now compared to JV the last 21 seasons?
I think as far as moving from JV to varsity the practices are pretty much the same. Our varsity and JV practices have mirrored each other for the past 21 years. ... The biggest thing is the more responsibilities. Now I'm responsible for scheduling, fundraisers and organizing events. We have to make sure we do the three things: pitching, catching and hitting. If we hammer the fundamentals and if we do those three things we should have a lot of success.
What is your most memorable coaching moment?
The day on JV when we played DeForest when they were still in our conference and Amy Buvid was pitching. She pitched 22 innings in two games that went extra innings and we won both ofd them. It was amazing that she was able to do that. My brightest moment was when my daughter (Taylor O'Leksy) played in the state tournament in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013. I can still can picture her up to hit against Baldwin-Woodville.
You attended a University of Wisconsin Softball Coaches clinic recently in the Wisconsin Dells. What did you learn from that clinic that you may implement this season?
I learned a lot from Heather Compton's pitching sessions. She's a two-time NCAA champion pitcher from UCLA, a member of Team USA, played professional women's fastpitch and has been a pitching coach at Florida and Florida State. I think 75 percent of softball is pitching. She did a great job of teaching the basics of pitching and what it takes to be a successful pitcher. I will bring back and implement some drills like "Around the World" in infield practice from Cindy Bristow who coached softball at Arizona State, New Mexico State and Wichita State. It really helps the kids stay engaged in practice and thinking about where they are throwing.
Monroe's run of three straight Badger South Conference championships was snapped last year. What will it take for Monroe to get back on top in the conference?
The team that will be at the forefront in our conference is Fort Atkinson. They probably have the best hitter in the conference in Morgan Dunkleberger. We have a girl coming in Olivia Bobak who throws very hard. Hopefully, our young pitchers will allow us an opportunity to win the conference. We probably have two of the better or maybe the best two pitchers in the conference. With our pitching we have an opportunity to finish in the top three in the conference.
What changes if any will you make to the Monroe softball program this year?
All of the things Dale Buvid did with the youth program and Park and Rec will continue. On April 1 and April 2 we will have a hitting, fielding and pitching clinic at the high school. We are planning a coaches clinic in the summer for parents who help coach softball in the summer. That way they can learn some of our drills and know what are expectations are.
