Columbus East coach Brent Chitty questions a call by official during the annual rivalry boys basketball game at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Dec. 16, 2022.
The Republic file photo
If Brent Chitty never coaches another basketball game, he can walk away knowing that he went out with perhaps his biggest in-season improvement against an opponent in his 29 years as a head coach.
Chitty took a Columbus East team that had lost by 40 to Columbus North during the regular season and led them to an overtime loss against the Bull Dogs in last week’s sectional semifinals.
“I thought their effort was phenomenal that night,” Chitty said. “They were a different team. That tells you how great their perseverance was throughout the year. Instead of folding the tent on a tough year, they just kept grinding, kept working hard. That perseverance will stick with them the rest of their life.”
As it turned out, that would be Chitty’s last game as East coach. He announced his resignation on Friday afternoon.
“This is a good time to do it,” Chitty said. “We have lots of young players that played a lot of varsity minutes, so there’s a good nucleus there. I’m excited for the future of Columbus East basketball.”
Chitty came to East in 2010 following 13 years as coach at Evansville Central. After going 9-15 in his first season with the Olympians, Chitty led them to double-digit wins in each of the next eight seasons.
The past four years, however, have been a little rough for Chitty and East. The Olympians went 14-72 over that span, including 2-20 this season.
“It’s pretty simple to me,” Chitty said. “The game of high school basketball is about kids. We’ve had four tough years here, and at the end of the day, but buck stops with the head coach, and I’m the head coach. When you say you love kids, you love your players, you have to do what’s best for them, and it may be time to hear a new voice, maybe to help them become the best they can be. David Miller, the new athletic director, will find a great coach.”
The Bloomington South graduate is 315-323 in 29 years overall as a head coach, with his first three years coming at Owen Valley. He went 129-165 in 13 years at East and was the head coach of the Indiana All-Stars in 2015.
Chitty is happy to have three honorable mention Academic All-State selections this season. The cumulative team GPA is above 3.6.
“I thought they played hard for me,” Chitty said. “They were coachable. I can’t say anything but positive things. I love them to death. They’re good kids. They’re good students. They don’t get in trouble. Am I proud of our kids’ effort in the classroom and on the court? Yes, I am. I’d do anything in the world for them.”
Miller, who will take over for Pete Huse as athletics director at the end of this school year, and East principal Mark Newell recognized Chitty’s commitment to academics, as well as athletics.
“Coach Chitty has made a positive impact on many student athletes over the last 13 years at Columbus East High School,” Miller said in a news release. “Columbus East Athletic Department would like to thank him for all that he has done for student-athletes, his dedication and leadership to Olympian boys basketball over the many years.”
“Brent has always cared about his players as student-athletes first and foremost,” Newell added in the release. “He has prepared his players for their future and laid the foundation for their future success. He will continue to have a positive impact on his students in the classroom.”
The 59-year-old Chitty, who also spent 10 years as an assistant athletics director at East, plans to remain as a physical education teacher. He also started in the fall as real estate broker with Stafford Realty out of Bloomington, at the urging of one of his friends, Batesville coach Aaron Garrett.
“My wife (Kristen) and I will spend some quality time,” Brent said. “She has been so unselfish for allowing me to pursue coaching for 38 years.”
He hasn’t ruled out returning to coaching in the future.
“You start telling God your plans, he’s going to laugh,” Chitty said. “I’m not saying this is the last game I’ll coach. I’ll let God tell me his plans.”
Chitty is thankful for the memories he’s made over the past 13 years with the Olympians.
“No. 1, I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to coach basketball at Columbus East,” Chitty said. “I can’t tell you how thankful I am for all of the assistant coaches, all the work they have put in for kids. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for the young men that I had the opportunity to coach. I cannot tell you how thankful I am for the incredible teachers at Columbus East High School that helped develop these young men and made them successful. To be a part of that is just a blessing.”
