Last month,
Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) and
Basha (Chandler) were qualifiers for the Division I boys basketball tournament.
The two programs were on opposites of the bracket and never crossed paths before being eliminated. Apparently the same can be said about their respective current coaching searches, as both administrations have scheduled interview dates for March 29, and according to sources it doesn't appear any of the candidates are double booked.
Brad Pinter, former Basha coach
File photo by Mitchell Reibel
It's kind of surprising as both East Valley programs are highly regarded with quality players returning.
Even their athletic directors – Mountain Pointe's Ian Moses and Basha's Brent Rincon – are similar.
"We are both little (in stature) and fiery," Moses said.
All joking aside, without getting into specific candidates, it appears the two schools are going in different directions when it comes to the coaching searches.
Mountain Pointe is trying to replace a near 300-game winner in Brian Fleming, whose teachings on the court weren't always focused on win and losses as much as they were on life. He resigned in order to be closer to family and pursue more education.
Whoever takes over the program will inherit a team that was extremely young, but talented. Guards
Khari Hollway,
Jalen Brown and
Austin Witherill, who combined to average 36.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 9.6 assists in last season's 15-13 campaign. They should be back next season.
The Pride administration focused on in-state candidates despite hearing from coaches from nine other states and even from a professional coach in Belgium. It will be narrowed down to about eight candidates by next week's interview process.
"We kept it in state simply because of the quality of coaches we have here," Moses said. "We are an up-and-coming state and I think our coaches should be recognized as such."
Basha's candidates are little more wide-ranging when it comes to replacing Brad Pinter, who resigned after going 95-49 in five seasons at the helm but lost his first postseason game each of the last two years.
With the expected return of point guard
Jaron Hopkins, forward
Torren Jones and forward
Maurice Kirby, the Bears will be one of the top contenders for the Division I title next season.
The Pride will have similar aspirations but it sounds like these two top programs will go about it with their separate ideas of what is needed for their futures.
"I think we are similar in a lot of respects, but I don't think we will be going after the same type of coach," Moses said. "In talking with others I think we are looking for different things in our coaches."
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothill News staff writer, is a 15-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.
