Sodek Stepping Down as Flatonia Hoops Coach

Chris Sodek’s stellar time as Flatonia boys basketball coach has come to an end.

But he’s not going far. He’s still the school superintendent.

As the Bulldogs’ season came to an end Monday with a 72-57 playoff loss to Holland, so did Sodek’s time as their coach.

He said he officially told the players this was his final year a few days prior, when they beat Bloomington to clinch a share of the district title, but he said the news was not a surprise to many close to the Bulldog program.

Sodek’s son Duke was a senior on the team and is headed to Texas A&M in the fall.

Meanwhile, Sodek’s daughter Summer is a sophomore scoring machine for the Lady Bulldogs and already drawing collegiate interest.

Sodek’s final year as a head coach may have been one of his best.

Last year the Bulldogs graduated all five starters from a team that went to the boys state tournament for the first time in school history.

This season Sodek worked his magic with a new lineup and still went 23-12.

“I was proud of what we accomplished. We weren’t expected to do much,” Sodek said.

In all, Sodek led the Bulldogs to the playoffs each of his 10 years as Flatonia head coach, and that playoff streak extends back to 2008 when he was with Mumford.

A Fayetteville native, Sodek coached 23 years total, including 22 as a head coach. His first year as head coach at Mumford he went 7-20, but eventually took them to three state tournaments, three state title games and won it all in 2014 before coming to Flatonia.

“If you told me when I started in Mumford that I would have been able to do all this I would have taken it in a heartbeat,” Sodek said.

Sodek’s overall head coaching record is a remarkable 547-192.

“That’s 74-percent. That only gets you a ‘C’ in school,” Sodek said.

Most coaches can only dream of a winning percentage like that.

Only 46 years old, Sodek said “I don’t want to say I’m done coaching forever” but for now he’s excited to be able to be a father watching from the stands.