Sometimes coaches are just a good fit.

That’s been the case with Josh Meeker and the Union High girls basketball team.

The Damsels won the District 9 Class A championship for the first time since 2000 and put together one of the most successful seasons in the storied history of the program.

It all helped Meeker garner the Butler County Girls Basketball Coach of the Year honor. He beat out Mark Yeager of Moniteau and Dana Petruska of Mars for the distinction.

Now in his third year as Union coach, Meeker becomes the third Damsels coach to win the award. He follows Karen Davis (1995, 1996) and Ed Jamison (1991).

Those two coaches combined to win more than 600 games at Union.

“I never felt any pressure following them,” Meeker said. “I knew the girls well because I coached them in junior high and I knew Karen was around to support me.”

Meeker was with Union’s program for four years — two as junior high coach, two as a volunteer assistant — before being named head coach.

He is 73-15 in three years, including 27-3 this past season.

“I was part of the tradition here for a few years before becoming head coach,” Meeker said. “I might have been nervous had I stepped into a tradition-rich program that I was never a part of before.“The way it worked out, it’s been a smooth transition.”The Damsels fell short of the program’s record for most wins in a year — 28 set in 1981-82 — but were 23-0 against District 9 competition this season.“I don’t know if that’s ever been done here,” Meeker said. “I do know this is the first time a Union team ever won the KSAC title and District 9 title in the same year.“There have been a lot of great teams here. These girls have a lot to be proud of.”So does Meeker.“He’s concerned with the girls’ lives after basketball,” Union assistant coach Jeff Shirey said. “He’s intense when it comes to basketball — he wants them to be dedicated — but that’s only part of it.“He wants to see their friendships bond.”Meeker has continued the success of a Union program that’s experienced just one losing season in the past 32 years. The Damsels have finished among the top three in the KSAC in 31 of 33 seasons.And he’s done it with just one senior: Courtney Horner, who averaged less than five points per game this season.“Even though we only have one senior, I don’t consider us young because we have so much experience,” Meeker said. “Andrea (Mortimer) and Bethany (Koch) are juniors who have been playing varsity basketball since they were freshmen.”Going into the PIAA tournament, the Damsels’ only losses were to Class AA Lakeview (60-58) and Class AAA Knoch (60-50).Union didn’t lose a game in January or February.“The big job for us next year will be being able to handle the high expectations that will be placed on us from outside,” Meeker said. “Newspapers, parents and fans will all be expecting a lot.“When you’re winning a lot, or you’re expected to win, your fans sometimes don’t get overly excited at games. These girls may have to get excited for each other.”Meeker and Shirey have developed a solid rapport with the girls.“We’re all comfortable with each other, but Josh isn’t afraid to be firm with them if he has to be,” Shirey said. “He keeps the lines of communication open with his players and they always talk things out.“The girls know he’s interested in them as people, not just basketball players. He wants them to grow into quality young women and they appreciate and respect him for that.”