WELLSBURG – Two names are synonymous with Brooke High School – Bud Billiard and Dave Reitter.

The former led the Bruins to three state football championships. The latter is now in the final stages of a remarkable 46.5-year coaching and teaching career – all at Brooke.

During that time, Reitter has coached Bruin basketball in some capacity for each of those 46 years. He also led the Brooke grid program following Billiard’s retirement.

Moreover, Reitter was the defensive coordinator for the Green & Gold’s state grid title teams.

What jumps out on his coaching resume is the year 1987. That is the season Reitter guided Brooke to its only state boys’ basketball championship.

Two years later, he directed the Bruin hoopsters to a state runnerup finish. All told, his Brooke basketball teams made six state final four appearances.

“Winning the state title and returning to the finals two years later are definitely highlights of my coaching career at Brooke,” Reitter said. “But also is being able to coach all three of my children. That is really special for me.”

Reitter was graduated from Follansbee High in 1965. After a stellar athletic career with the Blue Wave, he matriculated to nearby West Liberty to continue his football and academic careers.

After picking up his Hilltoppers’ diploma, Reitter did some substitute teaching as Weir Junior High before landing a fulltime job, teaching American History at Brooke in the 1969-70 school year. He has subsequently taught World History and Health.

“The timing was perfect. I was employed on a summer work crew at Brooke and the district was bringing in new teachers. I was on Jim Youngblood’s first football staff,” Reitter said. “I was hired as frosh hoop coach by Russ Schwertfeger. I also worked for Dan Petri and Dick Pannett when they were head basketball coaches.”

The 1985-86 campaign was Reitter’s first as Brooke’s boys’ hoop boss. He inherited a young and inexperienced bunch, ending with a 10-12 mark. Although that season didn’t translate into a winning one, it did set the foundation for greatness with Reitter planting the seeds for success,

Reitter’s second edition of Bruin basketball still is the measuring stick for Brooke hoop greatness. His 1986-87 team authored a brilliant 25-1 campaign, one which ended with a state championship game victory over Charleston.

“It was a special season. We had always played second fiddle to Wheeling Park in basketball,” Reitter said. “We beat Parkersburg in the state quarterfinals before beating the state’s No. 1 team Morgantown.

“I always told my players that I trusted every player on the team. In the final minutes of the state title game, I took out my point guard and put in a little-used player who was a good foul shooter,” he added. “He was surprised he was going in, but I knew they would foul him. Charleston fouled him and he continually made his free throws. It was so satisfying to see the faces of our players once they had realized they achieved their dreams.”

Reitter yielded the head basketball duties in 2002 when he took over as head football coach. The board of education had a policy in place that forbid someone holding both posts. That being the case, Reitter opted to became a hoop assistant.

That changed in 2006 when the boys’ basketball job became open. The board saw fit to entrust Reitter with both head posts.

Holding those dual posts at a school the size of Brooke speaks volumes of Reitter’s coaching prowess as well as his character.

“Football was a great experience. We had a super staff that stuck together. We had some great athletes and we were a much bigger school back then,” Reitter said. “Football helped me become a better basketball coach. When I was defensive coordinator, we would practice at 6 a.m. on Saturdays and then have a state football playoff game. It was a great experience.

“We made the playoffs my final two years as head football coach. I am grateful to the board for allowing me to do both jobs,” he added. “My wife (Vicki) was great about it. She did a tremendous job raising our kids.”

Reitter, who turns 69 this June, takes great pride in being a family man. While coaching cut into his time with his family, it also afforded him the opportunity to coach all three of his children in their high school careers.

Sons B.J. and Brent – now a rising star in basketball officiating – played hoops for their dad. As fate would have it, when daughter Jamie was a Bruin hoopster, West Virginia conducted its girls’ basketball season in the fall, enabling him to assist with the program.

If his coaching duties weren’t demanding enough, Reitter also took to the diamond in the spring and served as an umpire for 31 years. It was another task he performed with great ability, as he was selected to work several state tournament games.

“I enjoyed umpiring. It provided another venue for me,” Reitter said. “I was on the other side and got to see things in a different light.”

Reitter’s retirement was no quick decision. It has been a work in progress for several years.

“My wife and I started talking about it five or six years ago. It is now time to spend more time with my wife. She deserves it,” Reitter said. “I can now take her places we have never been. We can visit her brother in Florida who we haven’t seen for ages. I have my health and I can go see my grandsons play.”

Reitter is dropping the curtain this spring on a brilliant career, one in which he amassed more than 300 varsity basketball wins, multiple state grid playoff berths and a myriad of coaching awards. But for the Colliers native, it is people who resonate when he looks back at his elongated and successful body of work.

“I love being around the kids. I am going to miss game planning, the camaraderie and working with the players,” Reitter offered. “I will not miss the other stuff like paperwork.

“The Ohio Valley is a great place to coach. You make a lot of friends coaching and we all help each other. I enjoyed my battles with Sam Andy at Wheeling Park,” he continued. I appreciated the opportunity to coach at Brooke. It is a part of my life I will never forget. It’s been a great, great ride.”

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com