Andy Kiss has spent nearly 40 years of his life coaching and mentoring young athletes towards success on both on and off the hardcourt.
And now, the long-time women's basketball coach at St. Clair College has been honoured for his contributions to sport, with an induction into the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in the Builder's category.
"As I've coached over all these years, I never thought about and I never did it with the hope that maybe one day I would be considered for an honor like this," said Kiss. "I did it out of passion and love, and I've loved working with the kids and exceptional players over the years."
Saints women's basketball head coach Andy Kiss poses for a photo with athletes and coaching staff. (Source: Saints Athletics)
Kiss was one of 11 people inducted into the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 8, 2025. In the Builder's Category, fellow inductees Steve Bell (Broadcaster) and Bruce Carter (Football Official) joined Kiss.
Athletes who received the honour include Melissa Bishop-Nriagu (Track and Field), Noelle Montcalm (Track and Field), Tyrone Crawford (NFL Football), Luke Willson (NFL Football), Karo Ro (Boxing), Jordan Steen (Wrestling), and Korissa Williams (Basketball). Morgan Clark received the Bob Turner Award and Windsor Selects Baseball received the Team award.
"You go down the list of those people, and it's humbling to be included with them. It's really an unbelievable thrill to go in with all these folks," Kiss said.
Kiss first picked up a basketball when he was 10 years old, and it sparked a life-long love for the game, where success happened early - and often.
Kiss won an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations' gold medal as a member of the Herman Green Griffins in 1980, later playing collegiately for Central Michigan University, UWindsor and Queen's University as a point guard.
"I think point guard is position where, naturally, you think strategically and you implement the plan of the coach - it's almost like being a quarterback in football," Kiss said. "I was so interested in coaching, having had so many fantastic coaches over the years, that I just decided to give it a shot."
Kiss traded in his basketball shoes for a clipboard in 1987, noting his coaching role models are recognizable names, as they've already earned their place in the Windsor-Essex County Sports Hall of Fame, including the likes of Mike Brkovich, Chris McCaffrey, Godfrey Janisse, Harry Lumley and Paul "Doc" Thomas.
"It's an honor, yet there's a humbling aspect about it," said Coach Kiss. "Many people in the Hall of Fame are people that have either been heroes to me, or mentors, because they're people that I've looked up to and benefited from, perhaps for their coaching or their input in my journey as a coach."
In 2007, Kiss struck gold again, leading the St. Anne Saints girls' basketball team to an OFSAA championship and taking home the honour of Ontario High School Coach of the Year.
While teaching at St. Anne's High School, he coached the junior boys' team for 10 years, the senior girls' team for 18 years and the senior boys' team for three seasons. Over that time, he won nine championships in junior boys, 16 in senior girls and two in senior boys that included WECSSAA and SWOSSAA titles.
Kiss took the helm as head coach of the St. Clair Saints women's basketball program in 2013, making regular trips to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association post-season and bringing home three OCAA silver medals ('19, '20, '22) and one bronze ('13).
His work earned him OCAA Coach of the Year in 2024.
"I love coaching at St. Clair. It's about the people, and the people at the College are fantastic. I've really enjoyed this ride," he said, adding he now bleeds green and gold. "I did not attend St. Clair as a student, but I still see myself as a St. Clair man."
Reid Innes, the Director of Recreational Services at St. Clair said being inducted to the Windsor Essex County Sports Hall of Fame is a tremendous accomplishment for Coach Kiss.
"This honour is testament to his many years as a staple on our local basketball sidelines. Coach Kiss' success is obvious," said Innes. "However, it's his love for the game of basketball along with the desire to give back and share his knowledge with others that truly sets him apart."
"Under his leadership our Saints women's basketball program has been established as a perennial contender in the OCAA, earning four provincial medals and two trips to the CCAA National Championship since 2013-14," Innes said. "More importantly than those achievements, Coach Kiss has helped countless Saints student-athletes maximize their abilities on the court and beyond, cementing a legacy of leadership that is difficult to match."
Coach Kiss was emphatic that none of this would have been possible without the support of his family, including his wife Heather and his three adult children - Andrea, Ryan, and Mitchell.
"They're probably the biggest part of it," Kiss said. "Obviously the players, associate coaches and administrators were a huge part, but my family over the years, their support was there. Without that, it doesn't happen."
Kiss describes his coaching style as "tough love," with a lot of pressure defence and offence, a tactic that has helped make the Saints a contender, year-after-year.
"I coach the kids hard, but they know I care about them, and I love them, and will do anything to help them out," said Kiss. "I establish a relationship with the players and the goal is that they understand you truly care about them as people."
Coach Kiss said he still has a big goal remaining on his coaching to-do list, and that's to earn a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association medal.
"We've knocked on the door in the gold medal match a few times. And we're still hungry, that's still the goal," said Coach Kiss.
"I've still got the fire."
