Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond boys head coach Adolph Kochendorfer will retire at season’s end after 32 years as coach of the Gaels and 40 overall.

Adolph Kochendorfer doesn’t typically show a lot of emotion on the basketball court.

But the veteran leader of the St. Edmond boys program is sure to do just that over the next several weeks.

Kochendorfer, who led the Gaels to their only state championship on the hardwood, announced to his team earlier this week that this would be his final season as the school’s head basketball coach.

“Right now, I’m really focused on the task at hand and coaching these players, but I have decided this will be my final season as head coach at St. Edmond,” Kochendorfer said. “There will be a time to reflect on all of that other stuff later on.”

The veteran leader of the green and white will also be honored next Friday with the 2026 John R. Wooden Legacy Award. This marks the fourth year the national honor has been handed out to an Iowa recipient, as Ankeny Centennial’s Bob Fontana was the recipient last season.

“It really was a surprise when I found out about the award,” Kochendorfer said. “What makes me most proud is that others felt I was deserving of the honor.

“I’m just really proud and humbled at the same time to receive it.”

Kochendorfer became the 20th coach in Iowa high school boys basketball history to reach 600 career wins this season. He is currently 606-328 overall in 40 years on the sidelines.

Kochendorfer also recently cleared the 500-win mark at St. Edmond, where he is 503-258 at the helm.

“Coach K has meant everything to St. Edmond basketball,” said David Flattery, current activities director at the school and a former player under Kochendorfer. “His dedication to St. Edmond and to coaching has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has coached with passion, intensity and purpose, and always focuses on preparing his players not just for competition, but for life beyond basketball.

“As a player, I knew Coach as the passionate and intense competitor that he is. As his co-worker, I’ve come to know the man beyond the coach. He’s someone with a huge heart for kids and a fiery love for the game of basketball. His impact will be felt for generations.”

Under Kochendorfer’s guidance, St. Edmond has reached the state tournament 10 times, finishing as a runner-up in four of those years to go along with the Class 2A title in 2000.

Next week, before the start of a pivotal North Central Conference showdown between the fourth-ranked (Class 1A) Gaels and No. 9 (3A) Clear Lake, Kochendorfer will be presented the John R. Wooden Legacy Award in the Gael gym.

The award, handed out by the National High School Basketball Coaches Association, Inc., is given yearly to one boys and one girls coach in each state. It is presented in partnership with the Wooden Legacy and Wooden family.

John Wooden was a legendary head coach who led the UCLA men’s basketball team to an NCAA Div. I record seven consecutive national championships.

“Coach Wooden is someone I’ve always looked up to since getting into coaching,” Kochendorfer said. “To have my name mentioned with an award named in his honor is incredible.

“I’ve read his books and tried to follow several of his keys to being a successful coach.”

The Gaels are back on the court on Thursday at West Bend-Mallard. St. Edmond then hosts Hampton-Dumont/CAL on Friday.