LOS FRESNOS — Playing and coaching basketball has been a major part of Kim Edquist’s life.
She wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Now the recently retired Los Fresnos girls basketball coach is a hall of famer.
Edquist made a name for herself as a forward/guard at Laredo United and at Pan American University as a point guard before graduating from Pan Am in 1983. She started to coach in the mid-1980s.
Overall, she coached 33 years before retiring after the 2016-17 school year at Los Fresnos, where her record guiding the Lady Falcons was 528-344.
Last night, Edquist was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame at the organization’s 31st annual banquet at Boggus Ford Events Center in Pharr.
“I’m very honored,” she said. “If it wasn’t for all the players, the (assistant) coaches and administrators I’ve had, I wouldn’t be here (being inducted).”
Of her coaching career, Edquist said, “I’ve always kind of considered myself as a guidance counselor, really. I’ve tried to help students get through that next step (in life) that they’re going to take. It’s never been about coaching or having the (winning) numbers, district titles or anything like that. It’s been more about (imparting) life’s lessons.
“It’s always been about the students,” she added. “They come in (to high school) as kids and they leave as young women and young men. It’s such a great thing to watch them grow up and become adults. They always made me feel young being around them, and now I’m starting to feel old (as a retiree and) not being around them.
“I guess this is part of a life lesson (for me) in getting this honor,” she added. “It will be something that’s with me for the rest of my life, so I’m very grateful.”
At Los Fresnos, Edquist’s teams recorded seasons of 20 or more wins 13 times and posted two campaigns with at least 30 victories. Her best season came in 2011-12 when the Lady Falcons went 31-5.
Under the veteran coach, the Lady Falcons advanced to the regional tournament in 2000, reached the regional quarterfinals three other times and achieved four bi-district championships.
She had a career record of 245-114 in district competition at Los Fresnos and her teams went 14-17 in the postseason.
Edquist recorded her 500th career win on Dec. 16, 2015, in a 70-44 victory against Lopez.
One of Edquist’s closest friends and a fellow coach throughout her entire time at Los Fresnos is Becky Woods, a veteran volleyball coach who was inducted into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Edquist attended the banquet honoring Woods two years ago, and now it’s the retired basketball coach’s turn to be recognized.
“As a coach, Kim loved the job of coaching at the high school level,” Woods said. “She was a very motivated, knowledgeable and hard-working individual who built a basketball program at Los Fresnos with more than two decades of winning teams. She was very well-respected by the administration, the community, our coaching staffs and the student-athletes everywhere. I think the one thing that really stood out to me was her personality and the way she could relate to the kids.
“As a friend, I couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with,” Woods added. “We worked side by side for 27 years. Those were 27 exceptional years and I miss her (being at school) every day. I love her with all my heart and I wish her nothing but the best in her retirement. I congratulate her on this induction into the RGV Hall of Fame.”
Edquist responded by saying, “For 27 years we’ve had each other’s backs. It’s really great to work with people like that.”
