Ranking the Basketball Coaching Hires.

Written Saturday September 11th at 12:00 PM

I did some thinking this morning looking at the Basketball coaching hires this offseason. It should be a very interesting season this year and to see how each new coach will do this season. Here are the coaching hires. I will also post the blog articles for each of the coaching hires as well.

Girls:

EARLY THOUGHTS: The OAA just got stronger with the addition of seven new coaches this offseason. They are joining some great coaches in this league ranging from Kellen James, Julius Porter, Brian Sopota, Shaquita Coltrane, Bob Brydges, Rachel Bryer, Jeff Simpson, Bill Thurston, Stacie Klumpp, Kristen Massey, Laura Guzman, Roy Christmon, Chris Manchester, Christopher Wright, Desdan Hester, and Paul Allen.

Clarkston-Aaron Goodnough: Anytime you keep the hire from within is a great move which Wolves Athletic Director Jeff Kosin did with hiring Goodnough. It doesn’t change the surroundings and the players don’t have to adapt to a complete change in the system. Goodnough coaches the 2023 PR1DE which has several Clarkston players on the team and he coached the junior varsity last season. Program strength is not an issue at all. The Wolves are in a great spot to succeed with a new coach. Goodnough has been a proven winner.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/06/clarkston-has-their-new-girls.html

Adams-Joe Malburg: The Highlanders have gone through a culture change this offseason when they hired Joe Malburg to take over the program. Wherever Malburg has gone he has done very well quickly. He went 15-8 at Sterling Heights Parkway Christian in his second year there. You really can’t read up on his record too much though but he is a proven coach with several stops. He is very competitive and has fit really well in Highlanders nation. In talking to Malburg a few months ago he assured me that program strength will be rebuilt which of course makes me happy. Adams got a good one. 

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/06/adams-has-their-new-girls-basketball.html

West Bloomfield-Darrin McAllister: The Lakers went with experience this offseason with Darrin McAllister taking over the program and longtime former Southfield coach Jamie Glitz is his assistant coach. McAllister has been a proven winner throughout his coaching stops. West Bloomfield has five proven starters but depth and program strength are major concerns when looking at the eyeball test. McAllister spent one year at Waterford Kettering. They should be very good in the short term but the transition period and long term worries me with this program going forward.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/09/west-bloomfield-has-their-new-girls.html

Oak Park-Crystal Fulton: It was a quiet offseason for the Knights but they made a change in coaches and went with Crystal Fulton. Fulton played for Coach Peggy Evans-Carr and was on her staff last season. The players should be familiar with Fulton and it really doesn’t change the surroundings. Oak Park will be very young this season. I’m curious how program strength will be over in Knight Valley. It’s the perfect opportunity to see if the Knights can keep the momentum going from the last two seasons.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/08/oak-park-has-new-girls-basketball-coach.html

Groves-Alison Hidey: It was a tough offseason for the Falcons but Groves went with Alison Hidey to take over their program. Hidey was an assistant coach at Dearborn Divine Child for 12 years. This is her first opportunity at a head coaching job. She does have some experience coming back which helps but being in the Red as a new coach is going to be very challenging and also program strength is another challenge as well. It will take some time for Hidey to put her program in place.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/07/groves-has-new-girls-basketball-coach.html

Ferndale-Al Katolla: The Eagles went with proven experience with their hire. Ferndale went with former Oak Park Boys Basketball coach Al Katolla to take over the program. They did not field a program last season and are starting over from scratch. This is an interesting hire for Eagles Athletic Director Shaun Butler but when your program is starting over it will take some time to build the program.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/08/ferndale-has-their-new-girls-basketball.html

Berkley-Ben Bancroft: The Bears went within the school by naming Ben Bancroft to coach the program this offseason. Bancroft has experience coaching Boys and Girls Basketball. I have a ton of concerns when looking at this hire. They are in the White and have a tough district which doesn’t help and program strength is a concern with Berkley. There will also be a transition period as well. Bancroft will have his hands full for sure this season.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/09/berkley-has-their-new-girls-basketball.html

Boys:

EARLY THOUGHTS: The OAA just got stronger with the addition of five new coaches this offseason. They are joining some great coaches in this league ranging from Juan Rickman, Tim Waslik, Jaret Thomas, Todd Negoshian, Durand Sheppard, Phil Kurajian, Joel Schroeder, Gary Fralick, Steve Norgrove, Benny White, Steve Laidlaw, Dave Scott, Joe Sermo, Darreyle Buchanan, Mike Degeeter, Pat Clancy, Dameon O’Neil, and Aaron Smith.

West Bloomfield- Arnette Jordan: This was a home run hire for the Lakers naming Arnette Jordan to take over the program. Jordan is a proven winner throughout his coaching career. West Bloomfield has some experience coming back which helps any new coach but being in the Red is going to be very challenging. Program strength is very solid for the Lakers. Jordan will do very well at West Bloomfield.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/09/west-bloomfield-has-their-new-boys.html

Farmington- Derrick McDowell: This was a great hire for the Falcons to name Derrick McDowell as their new coach. McDowell brings a ton of experience to Farmington and is a proven winner wherever he’s been. Program strength is a concern but in talking with Falcons Athletic Director Tim Micklash he said that McDowell loves rebuilds and quick ones as well. Farmington is in the Red which makes this more challenging.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/08/farmington-has-their-new-boys.html

Rochester- Nick Evola: The Falcons named Nick Evola to take over the program. Evola was at Warren Woods Tower and was a teacher in the district. He is a proven winner with Warren Woods Tower and has an experienced team coming back. Program strength is a question mark for Rochester in the future. Rochester should be a force this season.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/06/rochester-has-their-new-boys-basketball.html

Ferndale University- Sammy Hines: The Eagles got an interesting hire in Sammy Hines taking over the program. Hines comes from Madison Heights Lamphere which also had their fair share of ups and downs. Ferndale University has experience coming back which helps Hines but program strength is a concern. If Hines can fix the program strength then the Eagles could make some noise in the years to come.

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/08/ferndale-university-has-their-new-boys.html

Harper Woods- Tajuan Porter: The Pioneers will have a new coach in a new league when they hired Tajuan Porter to take over the program. Porter has experience coming back which always helps but program strength is a concern. There will be a transition period for the Pioneers. It will be very interesting to see what happens. 

https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2021/08/harper-woods-has-their-new-boys.html