By SCOTT NOVAK
Vigilant/Argus

Some people are able to change the lives of others through being a high school coach.
Some do it while serving as an athletic director.

Mahlon Lowery was able to do it by being both.

Lowery died on Thursday morning at the age of 52 following a brief illness.

He was born in Indiana, however he graduated from Niles High School and earned an associates degree from Southwestern Michgan College and his master’s degree in Athletic Management from Western Michigan University.

Lowery made several coaching stops in his career, including a stint at Western Michigan as an assistant.
He was also an athletic director at Brandywine High School and at Brown Intermediate Schools in South Bend, where he also taught physical education.

Lowery also dedicated time to help organize tournaments, fundraisers and develop athletic events, equipment and facilities for youth sports – including the Brandywine Girls Softball field.

New Brandywine girls’ basketball coach Josh Hood worked along side Lowery as much as anyone in his 21 seasons of coaching basketball at a variety of levels.

“He has pretty much been there every step of the way for me,” Hood said in a telephone interview on Friday afternoon. “He helped me when I was at Coloma and when I was at Cass.

When asked what he remembered most about Lowery, Hood said it was his respect for the kids.

“His relationship with the kids was a good one because he always had their respect and they played hard for him because he respected them,” Hood noted. “He was hands down the most knowledgable guy in the area when it came to basketball. But what was most important was that he liked kids.”

Hood is preparing for his first season at Brandywine and said that Lowery was excited about the upcoming season as well.

“It’s going to be tough without him,” he said.

He helped Hood in both of his boys’ coaching stints at Coloma and Cassopolis.

“I had the opportunity to work directly with Mahlon Lowery over the past three winters while he assisted Josh Hood with varsity boys’ basketball at Cassopolis,” Cassopolis Athletic Director Bob Guse said. “Mahlon was an intense coach who had a gift for identifying necessary coaching adjustments required during a contest. As a coach and teacher, Mahlon valued his opportunity to serve as a role model and offer life lessons to students.”

“Mahlon was one of those individuals that truly loved working with young people and had done so very successfully for many year,” Brandywine AD Van Stratton noted. “His true love was for the sport of basketball and had the opportunity to share his knowledge with several communities in the Michiana area during his career.

“Mahlon became a mentor to several coaches that followed in his footsteps for the love of the sports world and competition. He had become a friend to many. Mahlon will be missed but not forgotten for what he leaves behind in his joy of sports and what all it brings to everyone,” he added.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian church officiating.