It’s ironic that for a man who taught math for 45 years, whose life’s calling centered on the power of numbers, that numbers and statistics, no matter how impressive, cannot possibly capture the true legacy of Bob Sterr’s tenure as educator and coach. It’s the man behind the numbers who made a brilliant and unquantifiable impact on those fortunate enough to share in his paths.Sterr knew early on that he was called to teach. Inspired by the examples of his dad, who coached Little League and other youth teams, and his St. Patrick’s High School coach, Pete Laffey, Sterr looked forward to one day becoming a teacher and coach, seeing coaching as an extension of the classroom. He pursued this passion at St. Mary’s in Minnesota, where he earned his B.A. and at Northern Illinois University, where he earned an M.S.Ed.Sterr began his coaching career at Bishop McNamara in 1965, happy to return to his home community of Kankakee. While there, he led his golf team to a 7th place finish in State and coached his basketball teams to a 10-year record of 144-115. Though the basketball program Sterr inherited was struggling, it grew to thrive under his patient, persistent leadership, eventually making a run to the first district title in program history. Sterr transitioned from Fightin’ Irish to Redskins in 1979, when he joined the staff at Naperville Central.In his years at NCHS, Sterr would go on to coach three State Tournament golf teams (two girls’ teams placed 7th and 11th; a boys’ team placed 5th) and three state placers (Cindi Schaff: 2nd place; Curtis Malm: 6th place; Mike Baldwin: 2nd place). In the basketball gym, Sterr commanded 10 Conference, 9 Regional and 1 Sectional Championship, and compiled an overall NCHS career record of 379-264. During that time, he coached notable players like Anthony Parker, Ryan Crowley, Tim Szatko and Ryan Paradise, helping them to high school, collegiate, and often professional success. His intense focus on team, however, created a culture of collaboration, commitment, and shared vision, where no individual, no matter how talented, took the shine away from the pure focus on team. When asked about his favorite coaching memories, Sterr immediately referenced the 1993 Super-Sectional team, as well as a DVC contest in 1988 when his team came back from a 66-44 deficit against Naperville North and won 74-70 in overtime en route to a conference championship. That joy turned to disappointment in a loss to Fremd that denied the Redskins a quarterfinal berth. And yet, Sterr concedes, it’s that emotional rollercoaster that makes athletics so special – and so powerful. Years later, he can still see the faces in the gym, hear the pounding of the ball and the squeaks of eager feet, sense the tension in the air. The story of a game, of a team, of a season is not really ever done. The feelings live on behind the notations of wins and losses, scores and stats. And those stories live on in the athletes and coaches fortunate enough to play for and work with Sterr. While Sterr is generous with his praise of students and colleagues alike, they are even more impassioned in their celebrations of him. As Naperville North coach Mark Lindo shared in an interview near the end of Sterr’s career, “It’s always a challenge to play a Bob Sterr team. They are always prepared and disciplined. He’s a gentleman on and off the floor. He’s a great ambassador for basketball in Illinois.” Long-time assistant coach Dave Dillon echoed Lindo’s assessment, saying, “He’s always been a man of such strong character. He wants the kids to be successful in life, not just on the court but off the court.” Comments like these connect beautifully to the goals of a young Sterr, who early on saw the important tie between classroom teaching and coaching. Retired Wheaton Warrenville South coach, Barry Brennan further supported Sterr’s approach, noting, “The best compliment you can give a coach is that you’d want your kid to play for him. I know my kid could play for Bob Sterr.”Student-athletes played their hearts out for Sterr because they knew he was giving all of his heart to them. He saw coaching as a privilege and taught his athletes to see the chance to play for their school as a gift, not a right. That lesson and mindset brought Sterr and his athletes great personal and athletic success. In 1999, Sterr was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.Sterr retired from teaching in 2003, and looked back fondly on “45 wonderful years in mathematics classrooms working with and for many talented teachers, principals, athletic directors, and, most importantly, the students who challenged [him].” Married for 54 years to wife Mary Kay, proud dad of six and even prouder grandpa of eleven, Sterr counts his family as the most beautiful of his statistics – and his greatest joy.