New 'Eaton era' set to tip off for McClain Tigers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
GREENFIELD – The Brent Eaton era at McClain High School has begun; but if you are looking for the new Tigers boys basketball coach to talk about himself, you will be hard pressed, as he doesn’t want this season to be about him – or anyone else. He just wants the upcoming MHS season to be about his players.
“The coaching change has been blown a little out of proportion, at times,” Eaton said. “This year isn’t about me, Coach (Rick) VanMatre or any other adult. This season is about our kids.”
Eaton, who is entering his first season as a head varsity coach, is taking over for former coach Rick VanMatre, who coached the McClain program for 28 years.
The new head man of the Tigers knows he has a tall task at hand, in replacing a coach with 400-plus wins. But it’s now time for Eaton to run the program his way, and that is the only way he knows how.
Eaton played high school basketball at Wheelersburg High School from 1994-97, where he played in a state championship game during the ’95 season. After graduating from high school, where he played point guard and forward, he attended college at Mount Union where he played basketball at the point guard position upon graduation in 2001. He was also the McClain athletic director last year.
The biggest difference for the first-year varsity head coach is being responsible for not only the high school program, but the entire program from the junior high level, on up.
“Before, I just worried about my teams, which were varsity and junior varsity; but now I worry about all levels from 7-12 grades,” Eaton said. “It takes more time to get things done the way I want them done.
“Also, I have to be visible throughout all the grade levels now so the kids have an understanding of who the coach is, and what we want done.”
What Eaton wants is for the McClain program to keep the tradition that has been built in the past, but with the image of basketball the way he sees it being played. “I want us to play hard-nosed, physical, mentally tough, unselfish basketball, while growing as a team,” Eaton said. “How we play on the court depends on the amount of talent the team possesses. Each year a team is different. We will run more than last year; but if Rick was here, we would be doing the same thing, and running more.”
When asked to describe his new coach, MHS senior Logan Wise answered with high praise.
“Coach (Eaton) is an intense man who is intense on the court,” Wise said. “He will rip your butt in practice when you don’t look him in the eye. He wants perfection and perfection is perfect. It is a good thing.”
Admitting he can be challenging as a coach, Eaton wants the best for his players, not only on the court, but off the court as well.
“The biggest thing I want from being a coach is that our kids learn life lessons,” Eaton said. “I want the kids to become solid, democratic citizens, because one day they will be our neighbors and community members as adults.”
The lessons Eaton teaches as a coach came from influences from coaches he has played for. He mentioned two coaches in particular as ones who made a difference.
“My junior high coach Bob Schwamburger and high school coach Tom Barrick were big coaching influences I had growing up,” Eaton said. “They influenced me in different ways. Bob made things fun, and Coach Barrick was meticulous.”
But in his overall biggest influences, Eaton said his late father, John Eaton, and Coach VanMatre, whom he coached under for eight seasons, taught him the most.
“I learned from them that doing things right is the most important thing,” Eaton said. “As a coach, one of your jobs is to be never outworked. Furthermore, it is important to develop a relationship with your players.”
Coaching under VanMatre, Eaton said the longtime former MHS coach built the program and Tiger tradition the hard way.
“Rick built the program from the ground up,” Eaton said. “He developed winners that believed no matter who they played, they could be successful.
“Our hope is that we continue that winning attitude, because ultimately, all of this is about the kids. By far, the greatest strength of the team this year is they all like each other, and have a passion for the game. They work hard and stick with one another.”
With the change on the Tiger sideline for the first time in almost three decades, Eaton wants the community to continue to support the kids in the program. “We have the hardest-working coaches and kids, and I hope the community continues to support them, both at home and on the road, no matter the grade level.”[[In-content Ad]]
“The coaching change has been blown a little out of proportion, at times,” Eaton said. “This year isn’t about me, Coach (Rick) VanMatre or any other adult. This season is about our kids.”
Eaton, who is entering his first season as a head varsity coach, is taking over for former coach Rick VanMatre, who coached the McClain program for 28 years.
The new head man of the Tigers knows he has a tall task at hand, in replacing a coach with 400-plus wins. But it’s now time for Eaton to run the program his way, and that is the only way he knows how.
Eaton played high school basketball at Wheelersburg High School from 1994-97, where he played in a state championship game during the ’95 season. After graduating from high school, where he played point guard and forward, he attended college at Mount Union where he played basketball at the point guard position upon graduation in 2001. He was also the McClain athletic director last year.
The biggest difference for the first-year varsity head coach is being responsible for not only the high school program, but the entire program from the junior high level, on up.
“Before, I just worried about my teams, which were varsity and junior varsity; but now I worry about all levels from 7-12 grades,” Eaton said. “It takes more time to get things done the way I want them done.
“Also, I have to be visible throughout all the grade levels now so the kids have an understanding of who the coach is, and what we want done.”
What Eaton wants is for the McClain program to keep the tradition that has been built in the past, but with the image of basketball the way he sees it being played. “I want us to play hard-nosed, physical, mentally tough, unselfish basketball, while growing as a team,” Eaton said. “How we play on the court depends on the amount of talent the team possesses. Each year a team is different. We will run more than last year; but if Rick was here, we would be doing the same thing, and running more.”
When asked to describe his new coach, MHS senior Logan Wise answered with high praise.
“Coach (Eaton) is an intense man who is intense on the court,” Wise said. “He will rip your butt in practice when you don’t look him in the eye. He wants perfection and perfection is perfect. It is a good thing.”
Admitting he can be challenging as a coach, Eaton wants the best for his players, not only on the court, but off the court as well.
“The biggest thing I want from being a coach is that our kids learn life lessons,” Eaton said. “I want the kids to become solid, democratic citizens, because one day they will be our neighbors and community members as adults.”
The lessons Eaton teaches as a coach came from influences from coaches he has played for. He mentioned two coaches in particular as ones who made a difference.
“My junior high coach Bob Schwamburger and high school coach Tom Barrick were big coaching influences I had growing up,” Eaton said. “They influenced me in different ways. Bob made things fun, and Coach Barrick was meticulous.”
But in his overall biggest influences, Eaton said his late father, John Eaton, and Coach VanMatre, whom he coached under for eight seasons, taught him the most.
“I learned from them that doing things right is the most important thing,” Eaton said. “As a coach, one of your jobs is to be never outworked. Furthermore, it is important to develop a relationship with your players.”
Coaching under VanMatre, Eaton said the longtime former MHS coach built the program and Tiger tradition the hard way.
“Rick built the program from the ground up,” Eaton said. “He developed winners that believed no matter who they played, they could be successful.
“Our hope is that we continue that winning attitude, because ultimately, all of this is about the kids. By far, the greatest strength of the team this year is they all like each other, and have a passion for the game. They work hard and stick with one another.”
With the change on the Tiger sideline for the first time in almost three decades, Eaton wants the community to continue to support the kids in the program. “We have the hardest-working coaches and kids, and I hope the community continues to support them, both at home and on the road, no matter the grade level.”[[In-content Ad]]