Where Are They Now?

GREEN BAY – Ashwaubenon High School graduate Adam Koch is this month’s “Where Are They Now?” Athlete.

After graduating from Ashwaubenon in 2006, Koch attended the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and played basketball for the Panthers.

After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, Koch joined the Indiana Pacers for the 2010 NBA Summer League.

He later played overseas before joining the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

Currently, Koch is a dentist at Oral Health Associates in Green Bay.

Ashwaubenon days Koch helped lead the Jaguars to a 24-1 record during his senior season in 2006.

Ashwaubenon’s only loss that year came to Milwaukee King in the WIAA Division 1 quarterfinals.

“We had big expectations that season,” Koch said. “I think we had 12 seniors. It was one of those situations where you had to bide your time and wait until you were probably a junior or senior to see playing time.”

Koch said he still has fond memories of playing at Ashwaubenon.
“I had a great time in high school playing basketball at Ashwaubenon,” he said. “We had big classes, so it was a lot of friends and a big group of guys who wanted to play basketball together. A lot of kids played two or three sports then, too. We had a lot of continuity because we had been playing together for a long time. I’m sure that led to some of our success.”

The Koch name is very recognizable in the area, with Adam’s younger brothers, Jake and Bennett, and sister, Maddie, all attending Ashwaubenon.

Adam’s two younger brothers also played basketball at UNI, while Maddie played volleyball at Purdue University.

“Because we were so senior-heavy my last year at Ashwaubenon, I never got to see game action with Jake in high school,” Koch said.

Moving on to UNI

Koch said he doesn’t remember getting recruited very much as a junior.

He said after getting taller and polishing his skills, his recruiting picked up during the summer between his junior and senior year.

“There were other schools – maybe 10 or 15 – that offered scholarships,” he said. “Most were UNI-type schools, with a couple maybe being a bit bigger. I went to a camp at Northern Iowa and really liked the coaches and the other players who were coming in with me. Also, being only about five hours away was really appealing, too. There are only so many Division I schools within a five-hour drive of Green Bay.”

Koch said the success of the Missouri Valley Conference also played into his decision.

“The year before I went there, four of their 10 teams were in the NCAA Tournament,” he said. “I think the conference was maybe a little stronger than what it is today. It was more of a people thing, though – I really liked the coaches, the team and the players. I think that was what really pushed me in that direction.”

Koch capped his basketball career by being named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while leading UNI to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Sweet 16.

He helped lead the Panthers to tournament victories over UNLV and No.  1-ranked Kansas during his senior season in 2010.

Koch ranks No. 21 on UNI’s all-time scoring chart with 1,186 points and ranks No. 4 on UNI’s all-time free throws made list with 446 from 2006-2010.

Though Adam and Jake didn’t get to play on the same court during high school, they more than made up for that in 2010 at UNI.

At the end of the game against Kansas to go to the Sweet 16, it was Jake and I on the court together,” Koch said. “That was a pretty cool moment for us.”

Beyond UNI

Koch said when he went to Europe and played in Prague, “I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have.”
“I spend about four or five months over there,” he said. “Honestly, I was 22 years old and had a dream of playing in the NBA. I was trying to stay in the States and play in the NBA if I could.”
After giving it a solid try, Koch said eventually, “I kind of knew it wasn’t going to happen for me.”

“I always had a plan to transition to dental school and dentistry if basketball wasn’t going to work out, so I think after that first year, I applied,” he said. “I knew after that second year it probably wasn’t going to happen for me to get to the NBA, so thankfully, I was able to pursue dental school.”

Koch said his playing career after UNI amounted to about two and a half years.

He said he was accepted to dental school at Creighton University, but there was still one more decision to make.

“The day I moved to Omaha for dental school, my agent called me and said, ‘There is a team in Japan who’s offering you X amount of dollars to play for them,’” Koch laughed.

“It was more money than I ever thought I would make playing basketball in Europe, but I had just committed to dental school. I didn’t end up pursuing the opportunity to play in Japan. I had just gotten married, and we had signed the paperwork to become Nebraska residents.”

By this point, Koch said, “It was time to move on.”

“I tried my best (to make it to the NBA),” he said. “I was at peace with my decision because I knew I had tried and ended my basketball career on my own terms.

Sometimes, players don’t get to choose when they are done because of injury, etc. Those three years bouncing around playing after college brought a lot of fun memories with them. I’m glad I took the time to pursue it and go for it.”

All in the family

Just as UNI was a logical choice for the Koch boys, so was becoming a dentist for Adam.

He said his dad, uncle and grandfather were all dentists.

“I had always thought if I could get into dental school and come back to the Green Bay area, that might be something I enjoy,” Koch said. “I was fortunate to come back to Green Bay and work with my dad for about five years, which was great. I really look up to my dad and have a lot of respect for him.”

Koch said his dad retired a couple of years ago.

“I got five years of sitting in the office next to my dad and got to play (college) basketball with my brother — what more could I ask for?” he said.

Green Bay is home Koch said his life has come full circle.

With all the traveling he’s done, he said he’s happy to be back home.

“Everyone probably has these moments, but coming back to Green Bay, now I’m a dad and helping coach my kids in basketball,” Koch said. “My wife (Kim Wypiszynski) is from Ashwaubenon. She also went to state and played at Northern Iowa and in Europe. We’re both happy to be here in the area, and I’m sure we will be at countless basketball tournaments chasing our kids around.”

Editor’s Note: If you have an idea for a “Where Are They Now?” athlete, email Rich at
Palzewic@gmail.com.