About

About Jonas Honick

Jonas Honick is a respected and acclaimed teacher and basketball coach. In a distinguished teaching and coaching career spanning four decades, he imparted a passion for learning and a love of the game of basketball. The insights shared with his students and athletes had a profound and lasting impact beyond the classroom and the court. Former students and players are effusive in their praise and appreciation, many echoing sentiments like the following:

When I was working 16-18 hours a day creating my start-up, I often thought about the challenges and tough practices Coach Honick presented to prepare us for an upcoming opponent. Recalling the work ethic and dedication he inspired helped me handle the challenges of creating my new business.  

I learned many things from [Coach Honick] about life, friendships, grit, determination, and teamwork. In hindsight, I couldn’t have been more fortunate to play for and learn from one of the truly great coaches and mentors.

Early Life and Education

Mr. Honick grew up in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, the younger of two sons to Irvin and Mary Honick. Irvin was a sergeant in an anti-tank company attached to the 89th Infantry Division during WWII, earning a combat infantry badge and participating in three major battles in the European Theater. His squad helped liberate Ohrdruf, the first Nazi concentration camp liberated by the Americans.  After the war, Irvin returned to work at Ben’s Clothing Store in New Kensington, where he had worked his way up from stock boy and eventually became store owner. Jonas’s mother, Mary Honick, worked at Pittsburgh Plate Glass during the war and continued working on the line until retirement. As children of The Great Depression, their life experiences helped shape Mr. Honick’s values and worldview.

Mr. Honick attended Valley High School in New Kensington, where he was a standout student and athlete. He played basketball and baseball for legendary coaches who helped inspire his commitment to teaching and coaching. Mr. Honick completed a post-graduate year at Choate Rosemary Hall, where he continued to excel as a student and athlete, earning the distinguished David T. Layman Award for academic excellence.

Harvard Years

Mr. Honick attended Harvard University, majoring in American History.  His junior-year history tutor was an important influence in his decision to become a history teacher. He led the Freshman basketball team in scoring (Ivy League rules prohibited freshmen from playing on the varsity).  During his three-year varsity career, Jonas played for Celtic legend and basketball Hall of Fame inductee Tom “Satch” Sanders and Mike Jarvis, who went on to a highly successful career as a high major Division I coach. 

Professional Career

Early Teaching and Coaching Years

After graduating from Harvard, Mr. Honick began his teaching career at Choate Rosemary Hall under the tutelage of the innovative History Department Chair, Tom Generous. He also coached the varsity basketball team from 1977 to 1980. The 1979-1980 team went 19-1, one of the best team records in school history. His passion for both history and basketball was evident from his early teaching and coaching days, laying the foundation for a decades-long career in education.

The Branson School

In the fall of 1980, Mr. Honick and his wife, Donna Mezias, moved to Northern California. She attended Stanford Law School, and Mr. Honick began teaching and coaching at The Branson School in Ross, California.  A beloved teacher at Branson, he inspired students to think critically and challenge existing norms until his retirement from Branson in 2020. A universally respected teacher of the game, he became one of the most successful basketball coaches in California history, guiding the boy’s varsity to numerous league, sectional, regional, and state championships.

Mr. Honick and his wife are the proud parents of Rachael and Isaiah Honick. Both were standout high school and college athletes and academic stars. 

Rachael, a former Peace Corps Volunteer with a Masters in Public Policy from Duke University, is a consultant in Washington, D.C. Isaiah, a former advance scout for the St. Louis Cardinals, has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Washington and is a consultant in Seattle, WA.

Awards and Recognitions

• A three-time recipient of the Mt. Tamalpais Cup, awarded by the graduating senior class to the most inspirational teacher
• William and Sara Kimball Distinguished Teacher Award for Outstanding Teaching, 2003
• Senior Class Yearbook Dedication, honoring the most influential teacher, 1984, 2000, 2019
• California State Basketball Coach of the Year, recognizing outstanding coaching and leadership, 2019
• Northern California Coach of the Year, 2007
• Division 5 California Coach of the Year, 2004
• Marin County Sports Hall of Fame, for outstanding contribution to the community, 2007
• Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Golden Bagel Award, honoring a life of service to the community, 2014 

Coaching Highlights

• Three California Division Five State Championships, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Four NorCal Regional Championships, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Eight North Coast Section Championships
• Eight Marin County Athletic League Championships 
• Over 750 wins, ranking in the top ten coaches all-time in California

Current Pursuits

Prolific Prep

After retiring from Branson, Mr. Honick became a consultant and coach at Prolific Prep of Napa, California, a nationally ranked basketball academy that has produced 12 McDonald’s All-Americans, 40 Division I college players, and 6 NBA drafted players. Coach Honick serves as a resource and mentor for other coaches and works individually with players on skill and game development.

Speaking and Clinic Engagements

Coach Honick is a sought-after guest speaker at basketball camps and clinics. An engaging speaker on what it takes to become a great player or coach, game management and strategy, and a wide range of other basketball topics, he also conducts clinics on defensive concepts and other specific skills. He recently was a guest speaker at the Jr. NBA clinic in the Bahamas, covering essential coaching principles and strategies. He also served as a consultant to the Bahamian National team at their training camp in Houston to prepare for the 2024 Olympic qualifier games.

Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Inspired by a 2011 trek in Nepal, Mr. Honick and his wife Donna played a pivotal role in raising funds to rebuild schools in a remote Nepalese village destroyed during the 2015 earthquake. He served as an advisor and on-site coordinator for students delivering food to the Homeless in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district for almost 20 years and is a regular donor and supporter of Bread & Roses Presents, Next Generation Scholars, and other philanthropic efforts impacting the local and global communities.

Innovative Teaching

Mr. Honick is a pioneering figure in education. He began teaching Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States in 1982, long before it became trendy and eschewed conventional teaching for more innovative approaches. In 1983, he was one of the first high school teachers to introduce a course on the Vietnam War. His teaching style focuses on simplifying intricate topics, fostering a high level of student engagement, and incorporating real-world experiences and current events. His highly popular Vietnam course included firsthand accounts by guest speakers who had experienced the conflict in different roles and capacities, making the subject matter more relatable and instilling a deeper understanding and appreciation. His courses included Ancient World History, AP Modern World History, AP United States History, History of the Vietnam War, African American History, U.S. Foreign Policy, and American Government.

Media Coverage and Positive Impact

The Marin Independent Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, Marin Magazine, and other newspapers and media throughout California have featured numerous articles highlighting Mr. Honick’s achievements, influence, and contributions.

Jonas Honick’s life is a testament to dedication, passion, and excellence, and an unwavering commitment to education and athletics. His legacy is reflected not merely in his many accolades and awards but more profoundly in the hundreds of students and athletes he has touched and inspired.