New Coach At Manchester A Familiar Face
November 17, 2016 at 5:27 p.m.
New Coach At Manchester A Familiar Face
By Dale [email protected]
After a three-year hiatus from the sidelines, Underwood has the itch again, and he’ll scratch it this winter by coaching the Manchester Squires.
Underwood coached boys hoops for 12 years, including a varsity stint at Borden High School in southern Indiana, where he guided the Braves through a turnaround period that saw them go 4-17 his first year and 17-4 in his third season.
Underwood’s most recent coaching gig was at Manchester, where he led the Lady Squires to a 162-104 record and three sectional championships from the 2001-02 season through the 2012-13 campaign.
Underwood, a 1982 Manchester High School graduate and standout player, is filling the void left by Eric Thompson, who went back to his post at Peru.
Thompson led the Squires to a 57-56 record over the past five seasons.
“I really missed coaching,” said Underwood, whose team opens the season Wednesday at Mississinewa. “I coached the girls here at Manchester for 12 years, and I?just felt like it was time to step away from that. But as I was gone those three years, I certainly missed it. When the administration approached me and wanted to know if I’d be interested in coaching the boys, it didn’t take me long to say yes.
“It had always been a goal of mine to coach the varsity boys here. I loved coaching the varsity girls, but prior to that I was a boys coach and had some varsity experience with that. It was just a great opportunity for a new challenge. Since I played here, it’s just a neat opportunity to get back into it. To do it where I played, and where I teach already, is a great opportunity for me.”
The Squires were 13-10 overall and 6-3 in the Three Rivers Conference last season.
This year’s varsity roster includes seniors David McAtee, Kane Gable, Heath Diercks, Jake Schannep, Levi Hicks and Adam Byers; juniors Mason Hamby, Koehl Fluke and Devon Rooney; and sophomores Brayden Casper and Kamdyn Lester.
“Since I took the job last spring, it’s been great working with the boys in the offseason, of course following the rules but doing what we could do,” said Underwood. “It’s been really great getting to know them. I think we’ve got a great group of boys here. There’s a lot of interest. We had 53 at open gym before the season started, once some of them got done with their fall sport.
“The guys are working hard, they’re good students, and we strive for that, for them to be the best student-athlete they can be. We want them to be a positive leader in the classroom as well as on the court.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time, obviously. Coach Thompson was a great coach, but like all coaches we do some things differently. There’s going to be a learning curve, but hopefully we can continue to improve throughout the year.”
Fluke, McAtee and Hamby have the most varsity experience of the players on Manchester’s roster.
Fluke averaged 12 points, four rebounds and two assists per game last season, while McAtee averaged eight points, three rebounds and three steals, and Hamby chipped in with nearly four points, three rebounds and a steal per contest.
After Wednesday’s game at Mississinewa, the Squires will travel to Oak Hill on Nov. 26.
Manchester opens its home schedule on Dec. 2 against Wawasee, and opens TRC play by hosting Southwood on Dec. 16.
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After a three-year hiatus from the sidelines, Underwood has the itch again, and he’ll scratch it this winter by coaching the Manchester Squires.
Underwood coached boys hoops for 12 years, including a varsity stint at Borden High School in southern Indiana, where he guided the Braves through a turnaround period that saw them go 4-17 his first year and 17-4 in his third season.
Underwood’s most recent coaching gig was at Manchester, where he led the Lady Squires to a 162-104 record and three sectional championships from the 2001-02 season through the 2012-13 campaign.
Underwood, a 1982 Manchester High School graduate and standout player, is filling the void left by Eric Thompson, who went back to his post at Peru.
Thompson led the Squires to a 57-56 record over the past five seasons.
“I really missed coaching,” said Underwood, whose team opens the season Wednesday at Mississinewa. “I coached the girls here at Manchester for 12 years, and I?just felt like it was time to step away from that. But as I was gone those three years, I certainly missed it. When the administration approached me and wanted to know if I’d be interested in coaching the boys, it didn’t take me long to say yes.
“It had always been a goal of mine to coach the varsity boys here. I loved coaching the varsity girls, but prior to that I was a boys coach and had some varsity experience with that. It was just a great opportunity for a new challenge. Since I played here, it’s just a neat opportunity to get back into it. To do it where I played, and where I teach already, is a great opportunity for me.”
The Squires were 13-10 overall and 6-3 in the Three Rivers Conference last season.
This year’s varsity roster includes seniors David McAtee, Kane Gable, Heath Diercks, Jake Schannep, Levi Hicks and Adam Byers; juniors Mason Hamby, Koehl Fluke and Devon Rooney; and sophomores Brayden Casper and Kamdyn Lester.
“Since I took the job last spring, it’s been great working with the boys in the offseason, of course following the rules but doing what we could do,” said Underwood. “It’s been really great getting to know them. I think we’ve got a great group of boys here. There’s a lot of interest. We had 53 at open gym before the season started, once some of them got done with their fall sport.
“The guys are working hard, they’re good students, and we strive for that, for them to be the best student-athlete they can be. We want them to be a positive leader in the classroom as well as on the court.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time, obviously. Coach Thompson was a great coach, but like all coaches we do some things differently. There’s going to be a learning curve, but hopefully we can continue to improve throughout the year.”
Fluke, McAtee and Hamby have the most varsity experience of the players on Manchester’s roster.
Fluke averaged 12 points, four rebounds and two assists per game last season, while McAtee averaged eight points, three rebounds and three steals, and Hamby chipped in with nearly four points, three rebounds and a steal per contest.
After Wednesday’s game at Mississinewa, the Squires will travel to Oak Hill on Nov. 26.
Manchester opens its home schedule on Dec. 2 against Wawasee, and opens TRC play by hosting Southwood on Dec. 16.
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