By Blake Chadwick
In just his third year back as a high school head coach, Kapaun Mt. Carmel’s Steve Eck won a state championship and added to his long list of wins. Before Eck made his return back to the City League, he was the head coach at Hutchinson Junior College where he won the 2017 NJCAA national championship.
Eck has achieved remarkable success, winning seven state championships over 13 years and amassing an impressive 1,044-170 record. His consistent achievements reflect not only his expertise and dedication but also his ability to cultivate a winning culture year after year. Before winning the state championship last season, Eck and the Crusaders made it to the state championship game, losing to Andover, and from there, he knew that next year, they had the pieces to win class 5A, and of course, they did just so.
The work is not finishing though for Eck and the Crusaders, as they have a real chance to repeat despite losing a good group of seniors. Kapaun will be led by Corbin Johnson, the all-state guard who can score from all three levels.
“I’ve been trying to get all my younger guys in the gym and just mentor them how the guys above me did,” Johnson said. “I try to lead by example if I’m working hard, I know they will see that and do the same. At Kapaun, we have such a good culture, so it’s not really about the guys on the court but the way we play.”
Because of the culture that Eck has established in his short time at Kapaun, Johnson, and the Crusaders are very confident that they can have yet another good year.
“For me, there’s no pressure; being able to play the game I love is a privilege and I trust in my work,” Johnson said. “Ultimately, there’s no pressure when you realize God will love you regardless of how you play or the outcome.”
