After 34 years at St. John Fisher, Phil Kahler will officially retire this Friday, Nov. 14. Kahler is the winningest women�s basketball coach in Division III history, with a 757-171 record. He retires as the second-longest tenured coach in all of women�s basketball.

�I would like to take this time to thank the St. John Fisher College administration that has supported me over the years,� Kahler said. �It�s really hard for me to believe that I�ve been here at St. John Fisher College for so long. Time flies when you�re having fun, and I�ve loved every minute of it.�

&&g-boxr&&Kahler, however, had no intentions of coaching when he and his family arrived in Rochester in 1974.

�I met with Father Lavery, who was president of the college, and he said he wanted to start an athletic program for the women and that I would be the women�s athletic director,� Kahler says. �But when I arrived at Fisher, I found out there wasn�t enough money to hire coaches, so I really didn�t have a choice but to coach.�

With only 34 women attending Fisher at the time (the college was an all-male institution until 1970), Kahler met with interested students and asked them what sports they wanted. Their response was basketball and volleyball and the rest is Fisher history.

Not only did Kahler create a dynasty on the basketball court, but the volleyball court as well. He guided the Cardinals for nine seasons with a career record of 386-72, including two appearances in the NAIA championship.