ANSONIA – The Ansonia Lady Tigers basketball program has been on the upswing the past three seasons, and much of that success can be traced to a coaching change that brought Versailles native Connor Custenborder to the sidelines — along with a familiar and highly accomplished assistant coach.
That assistant just happens to be his mother.
Connor, a 6-foot-5 former starter for the highly successful Versailles Tigers boys basketball team, brought a wealth of playing experience when he accepted the Ansonia head coaching position. Joining him on the bench is Kim Custenborder, a longtime varsity assistant under legendary former Versailles Lady Tigers coach Jacki Stonebraker.
Together, Stonebraker and Kim Custenborder were part of state championship teams, a state runner-up finish, and numerous district and regional title runs — experience that now benefits the Lady Tigers.
“You don’t see it very often, but it is very special and something I don’t take for granted,” Kim said of coaching alongside her son. “We don’t always agree, but that’s good. The biggest thing is, I learn from him as much as he learns from me.”
Kim is no stranger to coaching her son. She guided Connor’s seventh, eighth and ninth grade AAU boys basketball teams.
“A bunch of MAC boys,” Connor said with a smile. “Going in, they thought, ‘We have a girl for a coach,’ not knowing it was my mom — and she’s probably the most intense coach they would ever have.”
Kim’s intensity is rooted in her own decorated playing career. A Louisville, Kentucky native, she played college basketball at Thomas More University, where she is a member of the school’s Basketball Hall of Fame and still holds the program’s all-time leading rebounding record. She also was part of a Kentucky state championship high school softball team.
The Custenborders are truly a sports family. Connor’s sister, Kelsey Custenborder Gerken, an Account Executive with Phelan Insurance Agency, played on Versailles state championship teams in both basketball and volleyball. Her husband played college baseball, as did Connor’s father, Pat Custenborder, now an Employee Benefits Consultant with Phelan Insurance Agency.
Connor’s wife, Lexi Custenborder, also has a strong athletic background. She played college volleyball at Heidelberg University and served as the Ansonia varsity girls volleyball coach this past season. However, with a baby on the way, she has stepped away from coaching.
“We have a baby coming, and we think it would be too hard for both of us to coach,” Connor said. “We talked about it, and she didn’t want me to give it up. I am very thankful for her. She didn’t have to do that. I appreciate her doing that so I can continue to coach.”
Connor is grateful to have his mother’s championship experience and mental approach on the bench.
“She definitely knows this sport very well,” he said. “She knows what it takes to win. She’s the best in the business when it comes to the mental side of the game. If we need the girls fired up — she gets them fired up. She is second to none, getting the girls ready to go mentally and having confidence in themselves.”
The roles are clearly defined.
“Mom understands her role,” Connor said. “She’s a motivator — she gets the girls motivated. If the girls get down on themselves with a turnover, they come out and sit next to my mom, and a minute later they’re back in the game, good to go.”
And when rebounding fundamentals need attention, Connor knows exactly who to turn to.
“If we miss a few box outs, her being the all-time leading rebounder in college, she’ll say, ‘Get a timeout so I can have 30 seconds to get them fired up to rebound,’” he added.
For Kim, watching her son build a program has been especially rewarding.
“It is amazing,” she said. “I love it. I love watching his facial expressions and how excited he gets. He has a major passion for coaching, and his goal three years ago was to turn this program around. I am so proud of him.”
Beyond wins and losses, the coaching duo shares a common goal.
“We just want the girls to love the game and have a passion for it — to never give up, to keep giving and leave everything on the court,” Kim said. “That’s what our girls have done these last few games, and that is amazing.”
The partnership extends beyond the hardwood. Connor and Kim also work together at Prosperity Promotions, a family-owned business founded by Kim’s late parents, Lou and Betty Byron, in Louisville, Kentucky. Kim manages the Versailles location, while Connor serves as the company’s Sales Manager.
Prosperity Promotions specializes in branding solutions, offering unique, quality promotional products and customer-focused marketing. The company’s Signature Collection features carefully selected promotional items refreshed daily with trending products.
Prosperity Promotions is located at 307 Warren Street in Versailles.
For the Custenborders, whether it’s building brands or building a basketball program, the approach remains the same — passion, preparation, and family at the core.
The Ansonia Lady Tigers play for an OHSAA DVI District title, Saturday, February 28th at Monroe High School with an 11 a.m. start time.
