David Omer

Dave was a graduate of Clay (KY) HS and Western Kentucky University. He began his teaching and coaching career in Guthrie, KY before returning to Clay HS. He then shed his Kentucky roots and made the jump over the Ohio River to New Harmony High School. He would remain in Indiana for the rest of his education career, with stops at Waldron High School, Whiteland High School, Boonville High School, Barr-Reeve High School, and Washington High School. He held teaching and administrative roles at those stops, but he was most known as “Coach Omer”. His final game coaching was winning the 2005 3A State Championship game, a storybook ending to cap off 40 years of coaching. Sadly, soon after retiring at the end of the school year, along with wife Wilda, she succumbed to cancer on August 7, 2005. Dave amassed 470 wins across those six Indiana schools and was inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. As many of his former players would attest, Dave was considered a ‘tough’ coach. Yet at the same time, he developed many deep and lasting friendships among former players, coaches, and community members at every stop he and Wilda made over his career.

Dave is survived by his current wife, Carolyn (Cherry) Omer, who married on August 21, 2010. He is also survived by son Jon and daughter-in-law Leigh Omer of Westfield, IN and their two daughters Kendall and Jillian, as well as Jason and Leslie Omer of Washington and their daughter Brynna. Also surviving is one brother, Dick Omer, of Pacific, MO. Later in life, Dave’s passion was being involved in the lives of his granddaughters (who referred to him as Pappy). While he had a few other hobbies, it was his “girls” that he truly adored.