Legendary Montrose Christian Coach Stu Vetter plans to leave the school at the end of the summer, the school announced Wednesday.
“It’s the right time to step down,” the 61-year-old Vetter, who coached Kevin Durant and Greivis Vasquez, among others, told the Washington Post.
“At this stage of my life, I want to spend more time with my family and pursue other coaching, camp and business opportunities. It’s been a great 14 years and we’ve established ourselves as one of the best programs in the country, which is something I take pride in.”
During his 14 years at Montrose Christian, Vetter’s teams amassed 321 wins, an 87 percent winning percentage and graduated 100 percent of his seniors with more than 40 earning full scholarships to college, the school said.
Overall, he has won 878 games and won national championships at Flint Hill, St. John’s Prospect Hall, Harker Prep and Montrose Christian.
According to Andy Pollin and Leonard Shapiro’s “The Great Book of Washington DC Sports Lists,” Vetter’s Durant-led team played one of “The Two Greatest High School Basketball Games in Area History” in 2006, beating No. 1-ranked Oak Hill Academy at the buzzer and ending their 56-game winning streak.
In 2011, the team’s season was the first to be chronicled in a nationally televised series, Hoops Academy, showcasing a behind-the-scenes look at Montrose Christian School and the powerhouse basketball program. The team’s season and TV series culminated with Montrose Christian securing the ESPN NHSI National Championship in double-overtime against long-time rival Oak Hill Academy. In 2012, Coach
Vetter was inducted into the Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame along with game icons Len Bias and Gary Williams.
“I don’t think you ever close the door,” Vetter told the Post about his future. “I may not coach at the high school level again, but I will always listen to any opportunities that may present themselves. Any coach would want to do that. What I’m looking forward to is traveling around and visiting with former players and coaches.”
Photo: Washington Post