Jonas Honick

Jonas Honick has carved a niche for himself as a revered educator and basketball coach over a distinguished career spanning more than forty years. Originating from New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Jonas is the product of a household exemplified by resilience and integrity, values imparted by his parents, Irvin, a World War II sergeant, and Mary, a factory worker during the war. These values profoundly influenced Jonas, shaping his approach to both education and athletics.

Educated at Valley High School in his hometown, Jonas emerged as a standout student and athlete, attributes that he carried forward into his post-graduate year at Choate Rosemary Hall. Here, he excelled, earning the David T. Layman Award for his academic achievements, a foreshadowing of the multifaceted career that lay ahead.

Jonas's academic pursuits led him to Harvard University, where he majored in American History. His time at Harvard was not just about academics; it was also where he honed his skills on the basketball court. Under the tutelage of legendary coaches like Tom "Satch" Sanders and Mike Jarvis, Jonas led the first-year team in scoring. He contributed significantly during his varsity years, experiences that laid the groundwork for his future in coaching.

After Harvard, Jonas began his professional journey at Choate Rosemary Hall, initially focusing on history education before stepping into the role of varsity basketball coach. His coaching stint from 1977 to 1980 was marked by notable success, including a near-perfect season that underscored his coaching prowess.

In 1980, Jonas and his wife, Donna Mezias, relocated to Northern California, where he began a long and fruitful tenure at The Branson School in Ross. His four decades at Branson were transformative, not only for the school's basketball program, which he led to numerous victories but also for the countless students he engaged through his innovative teaching methods. Jonas's classroom was a dynamic environment where traditional history was interwoven with contemporary relevance, mainly through courses like the Vietnam War, which he was one of the first to teach at the high school level.