It is a seat on the bench Spencer Kendall has thought about taking since he returned home from college, but he did not know when the opportunity would come.
Kendall, a 2013 Utica graduate, was hired as the head boys basketball coach at Utica in April after serving seven seasons as an assistant under Brian Radabaugh.
“That six-inch (space) is actually huge,” said Kendall following Saturday scrimmages against visiting Granville Christian and Danville. "I have done a lot with Brian over the past seven years, but taking that step, there were a couple times going to shootouts, I remembered, 'Oh wait, I am the guy they want to talk to.'"
Kendall returned to Utica to begin his teaching and coaching career after graduating from Otterbein University. He is an intervention specialist for the North Fork district.
Radabaugh stepped down after 13 seasons, the program’s longest tenured coach in history. Utica finished 15-9 in 2022 before winning 12 games a year ago and nine last winter.
“(Radabaugh and I) had never had the talk," Kendall said. "It was always a dream to come back. It’s eventually what I wanted. I didn’t think it would be now, but I am pretty pumped for it.”
The challenge for Kendall on paper is a roster that graduated all but one significant contributor. Junior Hunter McKinney averaged 7.7 points per game as a sophomore.
McKinney said this summer, which has included shootouts at Ohio Northern, Wooster and Muskingum, has gone smoothly. He is reunited with other members of his class, who were part of the reserves this past season.
“It’s better for me because I have known these kids forever,” McKinney said. “Last year was kind of scary playing with the upperclassmen. We’ve been playing with each other for four years. We all trust each other. We’re like a family.”
That familiarity also works in Kendall’s favor as he served as reserve coach for Radabaugh.
“It’s pretty easy because I do know them all. Some of them I have had for three years already,” Kendall said. “It’s good to know what they can do, where their strengths are and how they can grow. It’s a big plus.”
He noted junior Kamden Hall and senior Gavin Tussey, who has returned to the program, have joined McKinney as leaders during June.
Juniors Zander Davis and Hayden Quinif and sophomore Holden Quinif, meanwhile, have demonstrated an ability to shoot and create from the wing. Freshman Sam Kruger has quickly made an impact with the varsity at point guard.
“Coach has definitely been training us hard on, ‘If you play hard, you are going to get your minutes.’ You have to put the same energy out there as Hunter,” Hayden Quinif said. “You are going to score by passing to your teammates.”
Lineups are far from settled as Kendall said 16 players have competed with the varsity at some point this month. The reserve team recently took runner-up in the Newark summer league.
During one quarter played primarily by younger players on Saturday, the upperclassmen enthusiastically celebrated their teammates’ hot shooting. Despite the inexperience, Kendall is taking the helm of a healthy program.
“The biggest thing I have noticed is how good of teammates we are,” Kendall said. “They do a great job of talking to each other and being positive.”
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: 'I am the guy': Spencer Kendall loving opportunity to coach Utica boys basketball
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