We, as members of the North Baltimore community and Local School District, would like to show our support for Varsity Boys Basketball Coach John Kloepfer. Under the leadership of Coach Kloepfer, the Varsity Boys Basketball team has gone further than ever before. It was apparent in many of the games played this year that the adjustments and preparations made by Coach Kloepfer and his staff put our athletes in the position to compete and win.

The team's success was not only made apparent by their performance on the court but also by their attitude off of it. The athletes always treated their opponents with respect and sportsmanship and knew that any negative representation of the team or school would result in disciplinary action.

Coach Kloepfer genuinely cares about the team and their success. During the summer he takes the athletes to tournaments all over the area. He challenges them by scheduling Division I and II schools so that the athletes are accustomed to a high level of competition.

Not only does Coach Kloepfer care about the team as a whole, he cares about each individual player. On the day of the Regional Semifinal Game, Coach Kloepfer and his family drove through inclement weather (that caused NBLS to close) to be with one of his players who was having brain surgery. Coach Kloepfer brought snacks for the player and puzzles and activities for the family members. He left his house at 4 a.m. and returned in time to catch the bus to the game.

Coach Kloepfer is also always honest with his players. If they are not properly executing or hustling he lets them know without berating or threatening them. When the team is successful, Coach Kloepfer communicates it with both the players and the community. This is evident in the interviews with local newspapers and radio stations. Many of these interviews are still available online. This brand of "tough love" will prepare players for their future in sports and their real life experiences.

We would like to continue to see our athletes continue to succeed in both sports and other aspects of life and believe that keeping Coach Kloepfer is the best way to do so.