Paul Bremigan coach for thirty years at Russia, won 437 games, and his contribution is still having an impact on Raider sports. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
A decade after leaving the position of head coach at Russia, and two decades after coming up short on his own state title opportunity, people will overlook the guy who dug the well that allowed others to drink the water of Russia basketball…Paul Bremigan.
He was there yesterday, out of sight but in the hallway at UD Arena leading from the Russia locker room to court – that close to a life-long coaching dream of seeing his beloved Raiders win a state title in basketball.
The dividend, a decade removed, of his forty-plus years of service, commitment, and loyalty to the Russia community, its athletes, and its legacy.
For people have forgotten, as is our nature, Paul Bremigan was once the coach of the Raiders (1984-2015) for 437 wins, and took them to the 2002 Division IV state championship game against Delphos St. John…coming away empty, 74-64.
The facts and figures of moments like that soon fade from the memory of most, even those closest to the moment. But not Bremigan, who during a visit last summer could still cite chapter and verse about Delphos’ Nate Klaus scoring 27 points that day in Columbus, Russia playing its best basketball to come back from a halftime deficit and lead 48-41 going into the fourth quarter…and then watching in frustration as Delphos blew out the Raiders with 33 fourth-quarter points to claim the Division IV title.
He would go on to coach the Raiders for another decade, stepping down in 2015 after 30 years and 437 wins for the usual reasons – a different opportunity, and in reality there’s always some sheep in the flock who believe its time for a different shepherd.
Bremigan would move on to Troy High School, where he coached for four years and 37 wins, but his style of sharing the basketball and pressure defense was never fully embraced – not the buy-in, or the athletes that he’d had all those years in Russia.
“They’re still playing Paul Bremigan basketball at Russia…that style and the ability to adapt to talent and competition on the court.” – former Jackson Center coach, Scott Elchert
He returned to the Raiders as the girls coach in 2020-21, and in three seasons eclipsed the 500 career win mark before stepping down two years ago to, as he told me…to look at things from the stands, and not from the bench.
Growing up the son of a coach in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, it’s in his blood, and while he’s no longer coaching basketball he coaches golf at Russia and drives the team bus for about 90% of its road games.
“He was at our practices every day last week,” current coach Spencer Cordonnier said over the weekend. Cordonnier played for Bremigan, and succeeded him when he left for Troy. Cordonnier was later succeeded by long-time JV coach Dave Borchers in 2019-’20 before returning to the Raiders’ bench three years ago with the loss of Borchers in a tragic automobile accident.
But yes, Bremigan was there on Saturday, just off-stage, absorbing what never happened under his watch. But all that time he never lost hope of seeing it happen…Russia’s state title in basketball. It meant that much.
Someone said over weekend that it’s great for those who are thirsty to drink, but never forget the man who dug the well. And Paul Bremigan, with the help of all those assistants over the years – Brad Francis, Spencer Cordonnier, Dave Borchers, and Mick Leffel – was the man who dug that well in Russia.
“And they’re still playing Paul Bremigan basketball at Russia, that style and that ability to adapt to talent and the competition on the court,” says now-retired Scott Elchert, who while coaching at Jackson Center for twenty years grew to know Russia basketball under Bremigan all too well. “Russia basketball today is still Paul Bremigan basketball. He was the architect.”
So yes, in all that will be written this week about 100 years of the Shelby County League, and Saturday’s title win being Russia’s 1,000th, it’s important to acknowledge that 44% of those wins, before Saturday, came under the watchful eye of Paul Bremigan.
Still there, still driving the bus, and still showing up for practice.
In appreciation, we recognize ‘Bremmy’ as this week’s Press Pros ‘Who’s Hot’ honoree – the man who dug the well!
On behalf of sponsor, the St. Henry Bank, Press Pros is happy to recognize this week’s ‘Who’s Hot’ honoree, Paul Bremigan, the man who dug the well at Russia.