This letter is in support of Jon Nedelcoff. I have had the honor of knowing Jon for over 30 years in a variety of ways. Jon and I grew up in the rival towns 5 miles apart, he in Hazel Green and I in Cuba City.
I was a math/computer/band geek in a basketball town. Given the small size of my high school, I also participated in sports so I knew who Jon was. I recall from those early 80’s years that Jon was a gifted athlete who was a leader for his teams and in his school.
Not once, from grade school through high school where by virtue of the power that comes with being a “jock” and leader in his school did I ever witness any type of behavior coming close to bullying. In fact it was just the opposite. When Cuba City went to Hazel Green Jon’s senior year of basketball for a game at the peak of its rivalry, it was Jon who acted with class when things got nasty on the floor and Hazel Green won.
After high school many of us from the small town surrounding UW-Platteville commuted to classes there. Given my history with Cuba City, which included being the target of bullying for being the geek I was, I took the opportunity to find a new group of friends and wound up with a group of people from Hazel Green which included Jon Nedelcoff. From my perspective Jon had nothing to gain from becoming my friend. He was well on his way to a coaching career, was working with Bo Ryan and did not need this friendship. But that’s not Jon. The geeky kid from his rival town and Jon did become friends. Not once during those college years did I see him treat anyone disrespectfully. Not once.
After college our careers have taken us different directions, but we did keep in touch. It was clear when we had those opportunities to talk that Jon has a passion not just for basketball but for all the kids who come through his classroom. When I heard Jon was coming to Oregon to coach, I was thrilled to know our community was getting not only a great coach, but a great person.
None of us are perfect, but to hear an accusation that Jon verbally assailed a student to the point of bullying is counter to everything I know of Jon that goes back over 30 years! I am honored to be able to call Jon a friend.
Oregon should be proud to have someone like Jon as a teacher and coach now, and for a long time to come.
Jon’s still geeky friend,
Marty Johll
Village of Oregon