Bob Kilner

Bob Kilner is the former quizbowl coach at Garfield Heights High School in Ohio. He is taking a break from coaching to complete his masters degree, but will still read, moderate and write questions.

Playing Career

Yeah, he pretty much blew but his team still managed to make it to OAC regionals and win a couple games. Then, they made the mistake of attending NAC in 2001. At least New Orleans is a pretty cool city (pre-Katrina). He did get to play with Chris Ray at the MLK though and he stays active by playing TRASH quite often.

Coaching Career

Bob took over at Garfield Heights at the ripe age of 18 after his coach was forced to resign amidst some political garbage. He did so with the sole intent of making sure that the school district did not get rid of the team (which they had tried to many times). He cited the fact that besides paying the coach a supplemental, the team raises all their own money.

Since December 2001, Kilner-coached teams have won over 800 matches while losing only 170. His 2005 team finally captured a tournament title at the Glen Gonsalves Memorial and went on to plow their way to an OAC Northeast Regional Championship. However, at the state level, they fell victim to Bryce Avery questions and were trounced. Returning only senior captain Jim Hrdlicka in 2005-2006, the team won several tournaments and captured the team's first state title, the NAQT Division I championship by going 10-0 at the state tournament. In 2007, returning the entire team besides Hrdlicka, the team surprised the entire state when they won the elusive OAC State Championship by defeating Fisher Catholic 37-33 in the finals.

In 2008, the team won its 2nd NAQT State Championship, defeating Stow-Munroe Falls in the semifinals and Solon High School 320-275 in the finals. They followed it up with a victory in the OAC State Finals for the 2nd year in a row, defeating Solon 58-44. Thanks to their OAC win, GHHS will be representing Ohio at PAC.

At the conclusion of the 2008 season, Bob stepped down as coach at Garfield Heights with over 700 wins and 4 state titles. His former assistant, Helen Lindsay and another teacher, Jeff Cunningham will take over coaching duties, where they will undoubtedly sink the program.

Over the course of 8 years coaching, if there is anything Bob is proud of, it is that all of his 60+ players have gone on to 4-year colleges upon graduation. In a normal school with a good quizbowl team, that may be looked upon strangely. But in Garfield Heights, Ohio where the college attendance rate is under 50%, he considers this quite an accomplishment.

External Links

• Chris Ray comment
• RM comment (note: disregard disclaimer)