Filipovich is one of three basketball honorees – he joins Mike Banks and Tim Joyce – set to be enshrined in this year’s class, bringing to 74 the number of local hardwood greats to be enshrined.
Born December 18, 1953, he is a 1971 graduate of Brookfield High School where he earned four letters in golf and another in football for the Warriors.
Upon graduation, he attended Bluffton College (1971-75) where he earned four letters in both football and golf for the Beavers.
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He helped BC to the 1974 and 1975 NAIA District 22 golf championship and for his efforts was inducted to the BC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
After earning his undergraduate degree in 1975 – he also did post-graduate work at YSU, graduating in 1983 – he began his teaching, coaching and administrative career with the Brookfield Schools, serving as the Warriors’ head golf and girls’ basketball coach, also serving as an assistant for both its football and boys basketball teams.
He was an assistant coach for the BHS boys’ basketball regional championship team, also serving as an assistant on its state championship football squad in 1978. He became the girl’s head basketball coach in 1981 and directed the program for the next 22 seasons, posting a 328-162 (.669 winning percentage) overall mark.
On January 28, 1999, he earned his 300th overall victory to join an elite list of area coaches who have accomplish that feat.
During his time as the BHS girls’ head mentor, he guided the Warriors to four (1991-93 and 1995) league championships, seven district (1983, 1990-92 and 1995-97) crowns, two regional titles (1990-91), five regional finals (1990-91), a state semi-final (1991) appearance and the state finals, that coming in 1990.
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While roaming the sidelines, he was honored as the Warren Tribune-Chronicle Division III “Coach of the Year” in 1988, earning Ohio High School Basketball Association Division III girl’s “Coach of the Year” laurels in 1991. A seven-time Trumbull County Coaches Association “Coach of the Year” honoree (1990-93 and 1995-97), he was named Mahoning Valley Coaches Association “Coach of the Year” on seven occasions (1990-93 and 1995-97) as well.
He was selected to coach in the 1992 All-Ohio Division III and IV, North-South All-Star game, was honored with the YWCA “Outstanding Achievement Award” in Trumbull County for girls sports that same year and in 1994, earned IDS/American Express Division III “Coach of the Year” laurels.
For his efforts he was inducted into the Brookfield High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
He has spent 45 years in education and currently serves as BHS Schools chief of accountability and assessment. He and his wife, Kari Rae, reside in Brookfield.
Individual tickets are $60 each, tables of eight $480 and further information can be obtained by calling 330-506-6774, or by visiting the organization’s website at www.thecurbstonecoaches.org.
This article is republished with permission of the Boardman News.
