Laidlaw is Back at Oxford.

Written Friday April 22nd at 11:58 PM

A familiar face is coming back to Oxford.

Confirmed via Facebook, the Wildcats hired Steve Laidlaw to coach their Varsity Boys Basketball team replacing interim coach Dave Brown whom replaced Stephan Henning after a scandal. Laidlaw now joins a list of returning coaches to return to coach their former school such as Jim Manzo last season at Orion and Tim Morton at Avondale three seasons ago.

Here is the Facebook Post from returning Wildcats coach Steve Laidlaw.

"Truly honored and privileged to be the new Varsity coach at Oxford. So incredibly thankful for my last six years at Avondale. I made so many lifelong relationships. We had a great first team meeting in Oxford today and the kids sure made me feel at home. I GET to do this again!! Blessed!!"

Laidlaw spent six seasons at Avondale coaching the JV team over in Auburn Hills from 2010-2016 but he is well known for being at Oxford for six seasons from 2003-2009. Laidlaw was forced out in 2009 after an issue with the school board but now he is back as the head man for the Wildcats.

Many Oxford alumni appreciated what Laidlaw did for the Wildcats Boys Basketball program, creating a family like atmosphere despite the 51-97 record he has in six seasons at Oxford coach.

Oxford will return players like Jordan Jayden, Ray LaVine, and Justin Lavalis along with a solid JV team from a season ago. It is unknown if Laidlaw will bring back current assistant coaches that worked under Brown. The Wildcats finished 6-15 last season which concluded with a district semifinal loss to Clarkston.

The Wildcats will compete in the Blue this upcoming Winter with their arch rival Orion along with Stoney Creek, Rochester, Groves, and Seaholm.

Thoughts:

This is a big addition for the Wildcats that I didn't see coming, to bring back one of their own in Laidlaw. He will bring enthusiasm, discipline, chemistry, and a family atmosphere to Oxford, something they have really needed since he left.

This reminds me of the situation very similar to the one at Orion when Jim Manzo returned to the bench. Manzo turned the Dragons into a 12 win team a season ago. Could Laidlaw do the same thing at Oxford??? It's possible.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for this developing story.