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Written by DRH
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Monday, 21 July 2008 20:30 Hits: 472 |
Half of the MWL will have new roundball coaches come November. Here's the lowdown.
North Eugene
The biggest (and most shocking) coaching swap of the offseason comes from NE, where the uber-successfull Bill Wagner stepped down not long after the 5A state tournament. Wagner led NE to an 88-18 record the last 4 seasons, back-to-back MWL titles in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and the 2006-07 state championship.
The Highlanders have a 30 game MWL winning streak heading into next season.
Wagner’s replacement is Jeff Hays, a 25 year old graduate assistant at the University of Montana. Hays will inherit a team devoid of varsity stallwarts Brian Conklin (2006-07 5A Player of the Year), Markus Baker (2007-08 co-MWL POTY), and the sweet shooting Drew Laird. There’s some nice senior pieces to build around — 6-2 wing Tyler Vanderhoff, and 6-10 post Joe Kammerer — but Hays is stepping into a large shadow. Let’s hope he gets some early love from the fans. NE is used to winning, but they won’t be going 15-0 in-league this year. It’s just not happening.
Marshfield
The Pirate’s Doug Miles, employed since 2003, has stepped down after guiding Marshfield to an up-and-down 9-15 record. Expected to contend for the final MWL playoff berth, Marshfield instead tried its best to stay out of the cellar.
JV coach Jesse Ainsworth will be taking over. Some much needed discipline is needed; Marshfield looked like a poorly coached University of Oregon team at times last year, when defense was only played on a whim and no three point attempt was a bad one. Ainsworth loses 1st team all-league Brogan Oswald, but can build around junior guard Kyle Tedder, one the MWL’s brightest newcomers this past season.
Churchill
Steve Minney, Lancer coach since 2006, who helped the Lancers to a fourth-place finish at the 2007 5A State Tournament, is stepping down and will be replaced by Kelly Bokn, formerly of Redmond High. This is a pretty big coup for Churchill; they have a lot of talent returning next year, and Bokn knows how to win. Redmond has reached the state playoffs in 13 of Bokn's 14 seasons, and of course we all remember Redmond winning the state championship in 2003 behind Maarty Leunen. Bokn got back to the state championship game in 2004, but lost to Kevin Love and Lake Oswego.
Churchill won the state championship in 1996 and 2001, but haven't seriously challenged for another since. Behind PG Jordan Myers, F LeRon Bennett, and P Brenden Means, expect Bokn to return Churchill to the state elite as early as this winter.
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