Mirror file photo Jeff Appleman coached girls basketball at Williamsburg, Hollidaysburg and Claysburg-Kimmel.

Williamsburg is mourning the loss of one of its greatest coaches and athletes.

Jeff Appleman, 75, of State College, died Thursday at Mount Nittany Medical Center after a bout with cancer.

Appleman, a 1968 graduate of Williamsburg High school, ranks third in wins among Blair County girls basketball coaches after coaching at Williamsburg, Hollidaysburg and Claysburg-Kimmel. He racked up 549 wins, including a PIAA Class 1A championship in 1997 when the Lady Pirates enjoyed an unbeaten season.

He retired from coaching in 2015.

Appleman is being remembered fondly by his former Williamsburg players.

“What I remember is he had a way to push us and demand results from us,” Amy (Hoy) Hileman, who played for Appleman from 1989-93, said. “We didn’t know what we had. He saw what we could do and brought it out of us on the floor. That is why we were so successful. He also made it fun. He found a balance.

“All the success we had in high school drove me,” Hileman added. “The best memories are I loved playing in high school with Jeff as my coach.”

Tracy (Houck) Colbert also played for Appleman from 1989-93.

“Jeff was passionate, a true motivator and prepared always,” Colbert said. “Every game, no matter how big or small, we had goals. He knew our strengths and played to those. He fostered great relationships and great human beings.”

Both Hileman and Colbert said they were inspired by Appleman to become coaches.

“I learned to be a coach from Jeff,” said Hileman, who served as Williamsburg’s head coach from 2019-24.

Even in retirement Appleman helped her, Hileman said.

“I was so blessed to have Jeff be willing to scout for us and have interest in the success of the program when I was coaching,” she said. ” I loved having the opportunity to still learn from him as an adult. I am just really grateful for that time I had with him over the years and am so thankful for everything he taught me as a player and a coach.”

Colbert got her start as an assistant coach under Appleman after he and his wife, Lois, a longtime assistant coach, approached her.

“Having no coaching experience, I was nervous,” Colbert said. “But their confidence in me and teaching me to see things from the other side of the game sparked something in me to continue coaching. Their love for the game definitely rubbed off, and I’ve held many coaching roles over the years. I can say with certainty, that without Jeff and Lois, this would not be the case.”

Abby (Hoy) Stoops, Williamsburg’s all-time scoring leader, played for Appleman from 1992-95.

“I remember he had so much excitement and enthusiasm for the game,” Stoops said. “He was coach, and Lois was coachette. Even today, the plays that he used, they are still using today.”

Carrie (Hileman) Loose played on the 1997 state championship team.

“Coach was incredibly thorough,” Loose said. “He truly thought of everything. From our scouting reports, play binders and practice schedules to weight-lifting plans, team bonding activities, and even homework, every detail was intentional and purposeful and it worked. His practice plans were especially impressive. He had the entire two hours mapped out down to the minute, which is something I later modeled when I coached volleyball at WHS. I truly learned from the best.”

Appleman had the respect of opposing coaches.

“Jeff was the kind of guy who was going to get the most out of his kids,” Jim Swaney, who coached against Appleman while at Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis, said. “You knew when you played a Jeff Appleman-coached team, they would play hard and get the most out of what they had. You had better be prepared for 32 minutes of a fight. He was always prepared and a very tough opponent to go against. He was a great coach.”

Jeff’s brother, Don Appleman, who coached both boys and girls basketball at Williamsburg, said Jeff combined a culture of knowledge and a sense of humor into his coaching.

“He was also an outstanding teacher,” Don Appleman said. “He brought his competitive spirit to it. He took the best parts of his character and put it all together. He was at his best when coaching. He loved it and the competition, and he was very successful. His players bought into what he was doing and loved him as a person.

“We are all proud of Jeff, I was so fortunate to have a brother who was a very special teacher, very special father and friend to me and our family and many more. He brought so much joy to so many people through laughter and good times.”

During his career, Jeff Appleman played in two state championship games — winning in 1966 — and coached in two state championship games, winning in 1997.

Appleman was a three-sport athlete in high school — playing football, basketball and baseball. In football, he played wingback and was an outstanding punter. He led Blair County in scoring as a senior and was one of the top scorers in the county in basketball.

He was a reserve on the 1966 state championship basketball team.

“Jeff was a good defensive player,” Bill Kagarise, a standout scorer, said. “What he had to do he got it done. He was a nice young man; I was glad to play with him and to be his teammate.”

Appleman started on the 1967 team, which went 25-1 and lost in the state semifinals, and on the1968 team, which went 25-3 and lost in the state championship game by one point to Mount Penn.

“He was the best athlete on the team,” said Rich Tate, the leading scorer on the 1967 team. “He was a great teammate, often offering encouragement during tough in-game situations. When things got tough, he’d often say, ‘Keep playing hard.’ He was super competitive as both a player and as a coach. He hated to lose, and his records as a player and as a coach reflect that.”

Like Appleman, Terry Cooper was a three-sport athlete (1966-68). He said Appleman was one of the best overall athletes to come out of Williamsburg.

“He was so versatile and team oriented,” Cooper said. “In football, he was our punter and wingback — he could run and catch. In basketball, he was as versatile as any player we ever had. He was a total team player, very versatile. There was not a selfish bone in his body. You knew if you were open he would get you the ball. He was a joy to play with.”

Funeral arrangements have not been finalized at this time.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.