Building the Next Generation of Ballers: A Deep Dive on Coach Jason Black

Jason Black is the Redwood Varsity Boy’s Basketball Head Coach, but what is his story?

By: Fabian Anguiano

Coach Jason Black grew up in Lorain, Ohio, and on his childhood growing up, Black said, “It was decent. I was an only child, so I spent a lot of time playing by myself and teaching myself sports. I lived in a single-parent home, that went well.”

Coach Black had a decent childhood, but how was he as a person growing up?

“I was a really good young man. My mother had taught me a lot of respect and I was really good in sports, so it helped me to get along.” I then asked him if basketball was involved in his life growing up; he said, “Basketball and baseball were my main sports. Baseball was my first love, and then basketball when my height started to really grow and it became big for me.”

Coach Black coached basketball, but did you know he was in the military before that?

“I joined the military in 1992 a year after I graduated high school. I did 8 years all the way to 2000.” On the mental toughness it took to be in the military, Black said, “First of all you have to believe in yourself, because you are [far] away from a young age, and you have to understand that you can make it through.”

What got Coach Black to coach basketball in the first place?

“I was just playing basketball and somebody asked me to coach basketball. I didn’t really think about it and then I thought it would be cool. I tried it, and 21 years later [I’m still] coaching basketball.”

Coach Black is a great coach, but how have his past experiences shaped him into the coach he is today?

“Every experience over the years I have grown as a coach. At first I was a player that was a coach, and it was difficult because I thought that because I was a good player, everybody that you put your hands on or talk to should be a good player, so you learn. The values of coaching are it makes you a better man as you work with people, as you have structure, organization, and discipline, and just striving to do well and be a leader.”

Coach Black has coached both the Redwood Girls and Boys Varsity basketball teams. Does he have a different method for coaching each?

“There are differences. I do coach both teams the same way. I do like the connection to the boys better than the girls, although I had a really great experience coaching the girls here at this school. I just like the interaction with the men a lot better, and I think that it’s a little bit easier just in general.”

How does Coach Black feel he has done so far with the team?

“I think I have done a really good job here as a coach. As a coach I have grown, the school has allowed me to grow and has worked with me to grow. I think I’ve had a great career here. I just feel [I have come up] a little short because I haven’t brought the school a championship, and I would really, really like to end my tenure here with a championship for the school. I think that would be a great reward back to them for letting me coach and as a reward for me for coaching.”

Coach Black has done good things with the team in the past years, but how does he feel about this season?

“I feel great about this season, the team is really good. We have a lot of everything; size, speed, we can shoot, we have guys that can dribble, we have experience. So we’re really looking forward to having a great season.”

Coach Black sure shared a lot about his childhood and his aspirations with the team, but he had one last thing to add.

“I wish the kids well, I wish the student body well. I hope that they come out to the games and support their friends, the school, and the basketball team, even if they don’t know anybody. Look for Redwood and Ranger nation to have a great winter [season] in basketball. We are going to do some really good things.”

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