Bob Nance’s basketball coaching has helped send hundreds of Cleveland youth to college through his Bob Nance Basketball Academy.
He purchased a vacant church, Saint Philip Neri, for $1 in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood three years ago and has been overhauling the building, gradually turning the old sanctuary into a basketball court.
Just days ago, he received a call.
“They said, Bob, your building is wide open,” said Nance.
Someone had broken in for the second time.
“Anyone who messes with God’s work is in trouble anyway. I don’t know who did this, why they did this, but it isn’t going to stop me from doing what I do,” said Nance.
Whoever broke in poured oil on the court. They also broke piping in the church, which has caused flooding. Basketball goals were shattered; so was stained glass.
“Long as you’ve got God on your side, you’ve got a chance,” said Nance. “He doesn’t give you nothing you can’t handle.”
Nance said repairs would have cost $200,000 before vandals struck, but now he estimates costs of $300,000.
