NT_050318

46 | May 3, 2018 | The Northbrook tower sports
northbrooktower.com
Weber’s influence earns
him hall of fame nod
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Michal Dwojak, Sports Editor
David Weber fulfilled his
father’s dreams when he
walked through Glenbrook
North’s main gym during a
late-February practice.
Weber’s impact on the
program is everywhere
around the gym: the 2005
IHSA Class AA state championship
banner hangs on a
wall, while a 2005 Glenbrook
North boys basketball
street sign is stored
away in the equipment
room inside the gym.
But with each play called
and side conversation with
a player held, Weber didn’t
only prepare his boys basketball
players for their
opening playoff game
against Prospect. Each personal
moment demonstrated
an impact greater than
those memories around the
gym.
That influence was and
is felt for the past quarter
century and is why Weber
will be inducted into the Illinois
Basketball Coaches
Association Hall of Fame
on May 5.
His impact helped Weber
not only have an athletic
presence in the community,
but a personal one,
a way of life his father instilled
in his children from
the first day.
“My dad always said
there’s no better life than
to be a teacher and a coach,
to help others,” said Bruce,
David’s brother and currently
the Kansas State
University men’s basketball
coach. “All five of us,
that was his goal for us and
that’s what we did. We have
helped others and affected
other people’s lives.”
Glenbrook North boys basketball coach David Weber
coaches during a practice Feb. 23 in Northbrook.
Michal dwojak/22nd century media
The roots
There’s no question what
the Weber children were
going to do when they grew
up.
Louis Weber had immigrated
to the United States
with his family from Austria
seeking a better life,
and when it came time to
figure out what was best
for his children, the choice
seemed simple.
“He didn’t give us a
choice, it’s not like we
could go into business he
said ‘you’re going to be a
teacher,’” David said. “His
reasoning was because his
brother was a teacher and
this was a long time ago,
and then he saw his brother’s
lifestyle compared
to his life and he thought
‘that would be a great life
much better lifestyle for my
kids.’”
Louis worked in a factory,
as most people in
Milwaukee did according
to David, but when it came
to leave work, sports and
family played a critical role
in his life. He and his sons
spent their time traveling
around the city, playing
basketball games in parks
and different gyms, wherever
they could find them.
David’s competition he
faced was different. He
was the youngest of five
and whenever his brothers
played, David was the
fifth player to fill the lineup,
mostly playing against
players much older than he
was.
“I think I was always the
baby of the family of the
group, I was always the
youngest one,” David said.
“I don’t know how much
that shaped my life, maybe
it did in how I handle
people, but I’m sure it did
in some shape, way or form
that I was the youngest one
playing against the older
guys. It was good for me.”
He won the high school
Milwaukee City Conference
Most Valuable Player
in 1978 before he enrolled
at Bowling Green State
University. He transferred
to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
before
he moved to Weber State
University and graduated
in 1983.
But beyond basketball,
his parents entrusted their
Please see weber, 45