Haines hired as new Lady Tigers varsity basketball coach
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD — In a special Greenfield Exempted Village Schools board meeting Tuesday night, Jarrod Haines was hired as the McClain Lady Tigers varsity basketball coach.
Haines, who is also the current Lady Tigers softball coach, replaces Dennis Overstake, who was the head coach for the Lady Tigers for the past 32 seasons, winning over 500 games in his storied career.
He becomes the fourth head coach in Lady Tiger basketball history, joining a group which consists of Sharon Hiles, John Miller and Overstake.
Haines has been the assistant coach for the Lady Tigers for the past five seasons but had an opportunity to become the head coach per rules of the school union, stating a coach must also be a teacher. Overstake recently retired from his teaching career. On the basketball court, Overstake has 501 career wins.
The new head coach, Haines, spoke about the opportunity he now has, as MHS last season finished 11-12 overall.
"I want to start by saying I've been very blessed to work under a coach like Coach Overstake for the past five years," he said. "I've learned so much from working in his program.
"Five years ago, I thought I was ready to be a head coach of a basketball program, but getting the opportunity to work with Coach Overstake, I realize now that I wasn't ready back then."
Haines, who works as an intervention specialist at MHS, spoke about what he learned from Overstake.
"He's taught me how to build a program, and I hope and pray I can continue the success he built," Haines said. "I have to thank him for everything he's taught me."
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A 2000 graduate of Fairfield High School and an '05 grad of Rio Grande, Haines (who played basketball and baseball in college) knows the importance of not only taking over the post of MHS Lady Tiger basketball, but the importance of the youth programs.
"I'm really excited about being a head coach," Haines said. "I've invested a lot of time as an assistant, and I've worked with the youth and junior high programs as well.
"The upcoming junior class, I've worked with them since they were in fifth grade. I'm a firm believer in working a lot with the youth programs. I want to get them excited about playing basketball."
Haines has had success in other fields of play, as his softball teams have won two South Central Ohio League championships, including a rare perfect league season in '12. Haines also spent one year each as a JV and a junior high boys coach at Fairfield.
Wanting to make the program his own, Haines said he will want the defense to be stay basically the same, but there could be some tweaks in the offense once late November arrives.
"I'll basically have the same philosophy on defense that is traditional with McClain basketball, but on offense, I want to make some changes … become more uptempo," he said. "One of the reasons I coach for the competitiveness. Basketball is more up-tempo than softball is, plus I have a passion for basketball.
"Basketball can teach life lessons."
Haines ended with a couple personal notes.
"I'd like to thank God for this opportunity," he said. "I also have to thank my wife and my family as well for their support. My parents gave me the opportunity to pursue sports, and they've helped push me to be the person I've become.
"I have to thank the administration at the school for the opportunity."
Haines, who is also the current Lady Tigers softball coach, replaces Dennis Overstake, who was the head coach for the Lady Tigers for the past 32 seasons, winning over 500 games in his storied career.
He becomes the fourth head coach in Lady Tiger basketball history, joining a group which consists of Sharon Hiles, John Miller and Overstake.
Haines has been the assistant coach for the Lady Tigers for the past five seasons but had an opportunity to become the head coach per rules of the school union, stating a coach must also be a teacher. Overstake recently retired from his teaching career. On the basketball court, Overstake has 501 career wins.
The new head coach, Haines, spoke about the opportunity he now has, as MHS last season finished 11-12 overall.
"I want to start by saying I've been very blessed to work under a coach like Coach Overstake for the past five years," he said. "I've learned so much from working in his program.
"Five years ago, I thought I was ready to be a head coach of a basketball program, but getting the opportunity to work with Coach Overstake, I realize now that I wasn't ready back then."
Haines, who works as an intervention specialist at MHS, spoke about what he learned from Overstake.
"He's taught me how to build a program, and I hope and pray I can continue the success he built," Haines said. "I have to thank him for everything he's taught me."
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A 2000 graduate of Fairfield High School and an '05 grad of Rio Grande, Haines (who played basketball and baseball in college) knows the importance of not only taking over the post of MHS Lady Tiger basketball, but the importance of the youth programs.
"I'm really excited about being a head coach," Haines said. "I've invested a lot of time as an assistant, and I've worked with the youth and junior high programs as well.
"The upcoming junior class, I've worked with them since they were in fifth grade. I'm a firm believer in working a lot with the youth programs. I want to get them excited about playing basketball."
Haines has had success in other fields of play, as his softball teams have won two South Central Ohio League championships, including a rare perfect league season in '12. Haines also spent one year each as a JV and a junior high boys coach at Fairfield.
Wanting to make the program his own, Haines said he will want the defense to be stay basically the same, but there could be some tweaks in the offense once late November arrives.
"I'll basically have the same philosophy on defense that is traditional with McClain basketball, but on offense, I want to make some changes … become more uptempo," he said. "One of the reasons I coach for the competitiveness. Basketball is more up-tempo than softball is, plus I have a passion for basketball.
"Basketball can teach life lessons."
Haines ended with a couple personal notes.
"I'd like to thank God for this opportunity," he said. "I also have to thank my wife and my family as well for their support. My parents gave me the opportunity to pursue sports, and they've helped push me to be the person I've become.
"I have to thank the administration at the school for the opportunity."