Muncy High School basketball coach Jason Gresh said it best – “March 24 was a bad day for Muncy.”

The occasion of Gresh’s remarks was an April 1 celebration of life remembrance and tribute to John Brink, a Muncy coach and icon who passed away March 24.

The public turnout of hundreds of friends, coaches, players past and present and members of the community gathered in the Muncy High School gym as a cadre of speakers spoke humorously and emotionally about the man who devoted 52 years of his life not only coaching the youth of his community but instilling life’s lessons, that have endured the test of time and were revealed as testimonials during the program’s presentation.

Mr. Muncy is not just a catchy title — it is an accurate description of who John Brink was and how he lived his life. He was born in Muncy, lived his life in the community, and died in Muncy, just a few weeks after coaching the boys’ basketball team into the PIAA state playoffs.

Graduating from Muncy High School, his accomplishments were many, including:
– Served honorably in the United States Army as a helicopter crew chief during the Vietnam War.
– Retired after working 35 years for the employment office of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
– Coached Muncy Little League for 47 years, compiling over 400 wins and 13 league titles.
– Coached the Muncy Girls Basketball program from 1985 to 2007, including six 20-win seasons, a Class AA District Title in 1993, and a Class A District Title in 2001.
– Served as Muncy High School boys’ basketball assistant coach for sixteen seasons.
– Twice was a recipient of the PIAA District IV Thomas A. Kline Sportsmanship Award presented by the Lycoming County Chapter of PIAA Basketball Officials.
– Elected as a member of the Muncy High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
– Recipient of the Lycoming County Brotherhood organization’s Ray Keyes Sports Award as a sports ambassador for all athletes in Lycoming County in 2020.

There were smiles, appreciative nodding of heads, and a few tears on the faces of attendees as Brink’s lifelong coaching associates Thomas “Pumpsie” Ritter, Roger Campbell, and George Henry retold moments of his coaching attributes. Muncy Athletic Director Curt Chilson detailed Brink’s long list of accomplishments serving in a variety of roles at the High School. Brother Dave Brink gave testimony to the positive influences of their life together.

But it was Gresh’s detailed, riveting, sometimes emotional tribute that revealed how vital Brink’s coaching, dedication, and friendship had meant to him during their years together on the Muncy bench.

“When I was hired as a young coach, the administration told me I needed to surround myself with some gray hair. I sought out John’s help as an assistant coach, and he accepted immediately. He often thanked me for the opportunity, but I am the one to thank him for all he did to help me and our basketball program.”

I am proud to be among so many people who could call John Brink a friend. We enjoyed each other’s company and shared lots of stories. He cared about people and treated them all with respect and dignity. From the Little Leaguer who first learned the game under his tutelage to the high school opponent who may have inflicted a disappointing defeat, he was the same — treating both with that wry smile on his face and the understanding of what it took to play the game.

After receiving the Lycoming County Brotherhood Award, I interviewed him for a Webb Weekly column. On that occasion, he stated:

“I’m very humbled by it. I guess you could say it is a longevity award. It means the recognition that I have been involved in sports and the lives of young people for a long time. I’ve really enjoyed the associations and friendships I’ve gained over the years, and as long as I am able to stay healthy, I hope to keep on going.”

John Brink did exactly that for 52 wonderful years. We would have all liked to have seen that association go into overtime, but the buzzer up above sounded and ended his run at 77. His coaching victories were plentiful, but on the scoreboard of life, John Brink can best be described as a champion.