By: Brandon Teela and Krissy Hetherington
Big changes are coming to the Redwood basketball program for the 2019-2020 season including two new coaches for both varsity teams. The boys gained a familiar face while the girls start new.
As released on April 19th, 2019, former Redwood Girls Basketball coach, Jason Black, switched to the Boys program after coaching the Lady Rangers for 8 years. During his time with the girls, he was able to accomplish 2 league championships, the team qualified to Central Section Division II playoffs every single year under his tenure. His accumulated record is 160-59.
In Black’s last season, he led the team to a 28-8 winning record and 6-2 in league with losses only to Hanford. They went on to playoffs and finished their season at Tehachapi in quarterfinals. Last year on the boys’ end, the team, led by former head coach Ken Ruby, finished third in WYL with a record of 12-17. Unfortunately they ended their season with a loss to Porterville in the first round of DII playoffs.
After Ruby stepped down early March, Black applied for the position, “When I was watching the boys practice, I always felt like I had something to offer…the thought of leaving a legacy on both sides as a winner was my main motivation. I enjoy hoop and left the girls’ program with all positive memories and accomplishments…”
“I wanted to give our boys the same opportunity as I gave our girls to have my leadership.”
Coach Black
Black led the girls in a 4 out offense with many plays allowing all athletes on the court to have a specific goal and role.
According to Black, “With the boys side, it’s a fresh start. I plan on preparing the team for each game to the best of my ability. If we teach the kids well and our kids buy in and try hard to reach their maximum as a player and team we can really control the hoop landscape year in and year out. That will lead to the wins and high percentages to win every time we step on the court.”
Recently, the girls’ position has been filled after many interviews. The new head coach is Gary Hylton. Hylton coached the Girls’ Basketball program for Exeter High School in 2007-2008 through his last year in 2017-2018. During his position, he led the team to an accumulated 162-128 record. He also led the Monarchs to the Final Four three times in his 10 year tenure.
After stepping down in 2018, he went on to assist the Golden West girls’ program for this year then was granted the new Redwood head coach position on May 9th.
Hylton was drawn to the new position because “It’s the school of choice in Visalia with a winning tradition in all sports.” He hopes to increase the attention towards sports and wants to add to the school pride by “beating Hanford, winning league, and getting an opportunity to play in the Valley Championship.”
His coaching style and goal is “I want to build on what the coaches before me have done: keep a winning tradition going…we will evaluate what we have and play to our strengths…” He wants to instill these simple rules going into the new season: “have fun, play hard, never quit, believe in the coaching staff and your teammates.” He is looking forward to connecting well with the returning players and growing with the team.
“[I] can’t wait to meet everyone and get ready to have fun /work hard/and just give it your best everyday at whatever your doing in life.”
Coach Hylton
Summer league for both teams starts once school gets out but both teams have started meeting and have begun working toward the goal for end of summer and going into the next season. The teams both plan to play a few tournaments including being part of the annual COS summer tournament.
The future for Redwood basketball on both ends looks bright and hopeful with strong goals and expectations set by both coaches in their new environments.