Written Wednesday November 10th at 11:00 AM
Here are all the coaching changes around the league this season.
Girls
EARLY THOUGHTS: The OAA just got stronger with the addition of eight new coaches in the offseason. Pontiac hasn't named a new coach yet. They are joining some great coaches in the 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, 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.
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 and had rebuilt programs 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 and a proven winner. 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 themselves a good one.
West Bloomfield-Darrin McAllister: The Lakers went with proven 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 career. West Bloomfield has five proven starters but depth and program strength are major concerns. I talked to Glinz about program strength and he assured me that things will be fine with the Lakers. McAllister spent one year at Waterford Kettering and was at Flint for a time. They should be very good this season but there are some concerns though in the long term that worry me.
Oak Park-Chantelle Corson: It was a quiet offseason for the Knights but they made a change in coaches and went with Chantelle Corson. Corson played for Coach Peggy Evans-Carr and was on her staff last season. The players should be familiar with Corson 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.
Groves-Alison Hidey: It was a really tough offseason for the Falcons. Groves went with Alison Hidey to take over their program. Hidey was an assistant at Dearborn Divine Child for a long while. 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.
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 a really interesting hire for Eagles Athletic Director Shaun Butler but when your program is starting over it will take some time to build the program.
Berkley-Cody Feltner: The Bears has had a dramatic offseason which started with then coach Kurt Carolan leaving Berkley to take a women’s assistant coaching position at Macomb Community College. They had a coach in place to replace Carolan but questions about the process arose and they had to start the process over again. The Bears went with Cody Feltner as their new head coach. Feltner has some coaching experience at Ferndale and also at Ferndale University. He will have better talent around him but I'm really concerned with program strength and the schedule. The coaching transition will be something to watch this season.
Pontiac-Rawle Marshall: The Phoenix went with a former Oakland great as their new head coach with Rawle Marshall taking over the program. Marshall led the Golden Grizzlies to the NCAA Tournament as a player in 2005. He takes over a Pontiac program that did not field a team last season. Program strength will be very interesting to watch with the Phoenix. They should be a program to watch.
Boys:
EARLY THOUGHTS: The OAA just got stronger with the addition of five new coaches in the offseason. They are joining some great coaches in the 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. They named Arnette Jordan as their new head coaching taking over for Jeremy Dehna who left West Bloomfield to take the Utica Ford II coaching job. Jordan has been 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.
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. He has been 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
Rochester- Nick Evola: The Falcons named Nick Evola to take over the program. Evola was at Warren Woods Tower and is a teacher at the school. 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.
Ferndale University- Sammy Hines: The Eagles went with Sammy Hines this offseason. Hines brings a ton of coaching experience. He comes from Madison Heights Lamphere which also had their fair share of ups and downs. Ferndale University has a ton of proven experience coming back which helps Hines. Program strength is a concern. If Hines can fix the program strength then the Eagles could make some noise in the years to come.
Harper Woods- Tujuan Porter: The Pioneers will have a new coach in a new league. They hired Tujuan 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.
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