ACKLEY – Brad Hames' life has been defined as one of service and commitment to friends, family, students and colleagues in the AGWSR community.
"His roots go deep and wide here in Ackley," AGWSR High School Principal Jason Gabel said.
Described often as having a laid-back, but straightforward and competitive personality, and the willingness to do a variety of things to support the area where he lived and worked, the AGWSR family is in mourning for the Hames family after Brad died at the age of 48 during a morning walk on Monday, Aug. 17.
Hames is survived by wife Tracy, also a teacher at AGWSR; his son Alex, a sophomore at UNI and his daughter Alyssa, entering her senior year at AGWSR.
"Brad was a very close friend of mine, and I'm still in shock today," said Aplington-Parkersburg Athletic Director Jason Berkey, who worked and coached with Hames for 16 years at Wellsburg-Steamboat Rock and AGWSR. "He touched a lot of lives as far as the teaching and coaching aspect goes."
Hames graduated from Webster City High School in 1990 and attended UNI where he played baseball and graduated in 1995, while also playing some North Central League baseball with a club out of Huron, South Dakota.
As part of a coaching staff with the newly-consolidated AGWSR school district, Hames and AGWSR head coach Russ Banzhaf coached and worked together for 25 years, a stint of longevity not often heard of in modern times. The Cougars went to two state tournaments with Hames on the staff.
"He was a coach on and off the court, a good friend and very charismatic," Banzhaf said. "He did a good job for our program and our community as a whole. … He was always willing to help and not only with athletes, but with students. He was a great guy."
Hames also led two teams and two individuals to state golf competition as the head coach of the boys golf team, including with his son Alex.
Evan Janssen is a 2014 AGWSR graduate and former Cougar boys basketball player who has gone on to coach for BCLUW's boys basketball program.
"He always said, 'It's an easy game, the ball's smaller than the rim so put it in,'" Janssen said. "Playing JV and freshmen basketball, we had so much fun with those two [Berkey and Hames] in charge. You never wanted to stop playing. But they would also be real with you and tell you what's going on, how you can improve. … They'd put an arm around you and tell you that you're better than this and really figure it out."
Trevor Bakker, who joined Janssen's staff at BCLUW as an assistant, worked closely with Hames as a post player at AGWSR and appreciated Hames' direct nature.
"Some coaches will try to tell you something and you're not sure what to take out of it," Bakker said. "He was short and to the point and gave you what you needed. I appreciated that. I've used that to talk to our players and make sure we make everything as clear as possible to them."
Ryley Schipper, an AGWSR alum who took over for Banzhaf as head coach after being on the staff since 2013, echoed his fellow Cougars' sentiments.
"He has been there for me through my darkest days to my highest highs," Schipper said. "I always knew I could count on him. … He answered your questions with a direct and honest answer; he wasn't afraid that his opinion may not always be liked, because that's what he believed was right."
Hames had two stints as athletic director at AGWSR, recently leaving the post in 2019 and was set to transition into becoming a student success coach at the school, helping Cougars plan their future careers or giving guidance for college.
"He was a hard worker, detail-oriented," Gabel said. "When Brad did something, you knew it'd be done right."
For all Hames did to teach Janssen, Bakker and countless other Cougars about basketball, Janssen notes he was just as effective as an educator – he taught at all levels during his time at the school, teaching Janssen English during his freshman and sophomore years.
"I still use his tips whenever making resumes or writing e-mails," Janssen said. "His teaching actually helped me probably more than his coaching did. He's one of the great ones, an absolute staple of Ackley, and I'm glad to have learned from him."
Outside of the school, he was still an easy guy to find. Whether it was selling real estate, taking painting jobs, spending time fishing or golfing with friends, he was often the guy to know in the community.
"We had a student that wanted to be a diesel mechanic," Gabel recounted. "Brad gave the student a list – 'Here's the three people to contact and I will vouch for you.' When we're looking at connecting our students and graduates, Brad knew exactly who to call and those people would take his recommendation to heart."
The reaction to Hames' death has sparked an outpouring of support from those inside and outside of the AGWSR bubble.
"I think it goes to show you how many lives he touched," Berkey said. "He was very passionate about basketball and loved what he did in the classroom. … He wore a lot of hats in his life."
Alyssa Hames shared a photo of her father fishing with her on Twitter after news of Brad's death came to light.
"Blessed to have 17 years of life with this great guy I call Dad," Alyssa tweeted. "Miss you already."
Those memories built over years and years will undoubtedly keep Brad Hames in the AGWSR community's consciousness for years to come.
"It's a big loss," Banzhaf said. "But we have the memories to hang on to."
