Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Norm Persin’s retirement lasted about as long as one of his losing streaks.
Less than five months from telling Oak Hill he was retiring as a teacher, athletic director and boys’ basketball coach, Persin accepted an offer from Lucasville Valley to be their boys’ basketball coach.
Persin said he has a torn meniscus and was waiting to have surgery. He has been sitting around watching TV and growing bored when his phone rang.
“I had no interest,” said Persin. “But it’s a good situation. I had no intentions. I had no intentions this was ever going to happen until they started calling. They just kept coming at me and then they called and left a message and asked me to get back with them.”
Persin’s coaching record is a staggering 766 wins and just 214 losses which ranks third all-time among Ohio coaches and his .786 winning percentage is the best. Only Richard Kortokraz (890-372) and Joe Petrocelli (831-305) have more wins.
Persin began his head coaching career at Oak Hill which was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference at the time. Persin won three league titles in six seasons.
He then took the head coaching job at Wilmington for two seasons where he coached guard Greg Nard who went on to play at Maryland.
He returned to the OVC as the head coach of the Chesapeake Panthers and the storm of victories reached near hurricane proportions.
At Chesapeake, Persin won 16 OVC titles in 21 seasons including a record 11 straight. His teams compiled a 76-game home winning streak and a 46-game regular season winning streak.
The Panthers were voted Associated Press poll champions in back-to-back seasons.
Persin said he will remain retired from teaching.
I don’t have to teach. I don’t have to be A.D. I don’t have to be there in the fall. Their kids play football or other sports,” said Persin. “The only time I have to be there is basketball season.”