McGraw wants Wildcats to 'work hard'
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
This summer, the Whiteoak Wildcats hired their new head coach for the boys varsity basketball program, and that hire wants to usher in a new era of Wildcat basketball in hopes of turning around the program.
The new leader of the boys basketball program is Clinton County native Jeremy McGraw, as the graduate of East Clinton High School and Wilmington College is set to take over as the head coach.
McGraw previously coached junior high basketball at Hillsboro last season, along with coaching volleyball, softball and golf at East Clinton.
The new head coach of Whiteoak said the transition to varsity basketball has been great.
[[In-content Ad]]"The athletic director, the principal and the superintendent have been great," McGraw told The Highland County Press. "They are working with me, getting me involved with the school."
McGraw will be an intervention specialist at WHS starting this fall.
As for the basketball part of his job, the expectations are high for McGraw with his new team, and he has no doubt where he wants to see the program go.
"My goal is for the team to play hard," he said. "I want them to give 110 percent and just play as hard as they can. On the basketball court, I want the offense to get in different sets and have open looks.
"Defense will be important for us as well … helping each other out. We'll bring a solid effort, but play hard. I want to see our guys dive on the floor for possession of the basketball and take charges on defense."
Assisting McGraw will be Corey Copas, who will also be the junior varsity coach.
"We are having good numbers at open gyms, and they are a great group of young men," McGraw said. "They have a great attitude. We've stressed to them we want to see them work hard and bring that good attitude with them."
Again, McGraw has set the expectation level high. Last season, the Wildcats had just one win, but that was last season, and McGraw still wants to see his team begin the new chapter of Wildcat basketball.
"The expectation is to win the league title," the new WHS head coach said. "It will take a lot of work from our guys, but all of us are willing to put that work in to become a better basketball team."
McGraw said he has learned from other coaches he has coached under in the past, including Dusty Miller and Ryan Briggs at East Clinton, Adam Weber at Blanchester and Brett Prince at Hillsboro.
"I've been able to pick up something from every coach I've been able to work with and coach under," he said.
McGraw said he'll work just as hard as his players when he is coaching.
"I'm going to work just as hard as I expect the kids to work," he said. "We are going to study film, scout teams and put just as much effort in as coaches as we will ask of our players.
"We'll push them as a team, and they will push us as well. I look forward to this coaching and teaching experience."
The new leader of the boys basketball program is Clinton County native Jeremy McGraw, as the graduate of East Clinton High School and Wilmington College is set to take over as the head coach.
McGraw previously coached junior high basketball at Hillsboro last season, along with coaching volleyball, softball and golf at East Clinton.
The new head coach of Whiteoak said the transition to varsity basketball has been great.
[[In-content Ad]]"The athletic director, the principal and the superintendent have been great," McGraw told The Highland County Press. "They are working with me, getting me involved with the school."
McGraw will be an intervention specialist at WHS starting this fall.
As for the basketball part of his job, the expectations are high for McGraw with his new team, and he has no doubt where he wants to see the program go.
"My goal is for the team to play hard," he said. "I want them to give 110 percent and just play as hard as they can. On the basketball court, I want the offense to get in different sets and have open looks.
"Defense will be important for us as well … helping each other out. We'll bring a solid effort, but play hard. I want to see our guys dive on the floor for possession of the basketball and take charges on defense."
Assisting McGraw will be Corey Copas, who will also be the junior varsity coach.
"We are having good numbers at open gyms, and they are a great group of young men," McGraw said. "They have a great attitude. We've stressed to them we want to see them work hard and bring that good attitude with them."
Again, McGraw has set the expectation level high. Last season, the Wildcats had just one win, but that was last season, and McGraw still wants to see his team begin the new chapter of Wildcat basketball.
"The expectation is to win the league title," the new WHS head coach said. "It will take a lot of work from our guys, but all of us are willing to put that work in to become a better basketball team."
McGraw said he has learned from other coaches he has coached under in the past, including Dusty Miller and Ryan Briggs at East Clinton, Adam Weber at Blanchester and Brett Prince at Hillsboro.
"I've been able to pick up something from every coach I've been able to work with and coach under," he said.
McGraw said he'll work just as hard as his players when he is coaching.
"I'm going to work just as hard as I expect the kids to work," he said. "We are going to study film, scout teams and put just as much effort in as coaches as we will ask of our players.
"We'll push them as a team, and they will push us as well. I look forward to this coaching and teaching experience."