The coaching carousel did not spin off its foundation this offseason for area basketball programs -- but it did provide several changes throughout northeast Georgia.
And as the 2015-16 season gets underway, several coaches and programs are eager to see just what those moves will provide.
(NOTE: AccessWDUN will provide readers/viewers with our 2015-16 preview for area boys and girls programs on Nov. 23 -- including information for 51 northeast Georgia squads.)
Not least among that group is Lumpkin County and Jeff Steele -- who left Johnson this offseason to join the Indians after building the Knights into one of the most successful squads in the state.
After Steele’s move, Johnson tapped Buford assistant Tim Slater, a former assistant for Allen Whitehart, who himself stepped down at Buford at nearly the same time. The Wolves responded by landing one of Georgia’s all-time winningest coach Eddie Martin. Meanwhile, former Johnson assistant Zac Swansey took control at West Hall after long-time Spartans coach Warren Sellers stepped down. On the girls side, Courtney Newton and Flowery Branch also made a splash, taking over the program Newton helped build as a player.
In fact, three of the programs in question made changes after impressive campaigns. Buford has become a state stalwart and advanced to the Class AAAA title game just two seasons ago, while Johnson is coming off its best-ever showing with a quarterfinals appearance in 2015. The Lady Falcons also reached the Class AAAAA postseason in 2015 and return all five starters from that squad.
It was hardly an easy decision for Steele -- who left the Knights after 17 seasons to take over the boys program at Lumpkin County and be closer to home.
“I live in Lumpkin County and just felt it was time for a new challenge,” Steele said. “We had a great run at Johnson. They are in capable hands.”
As for the Indians, who are coming off a nine-win season, it will be a transition period as they try to adapt to Steele’s familiar up-tempo style on both ends of the floor.
“The No. 1 priority right now has been to try and instill a mindset of playing with energy, effort, and unity. That always takes some time. It took a couple of years when I first got to Johnson,” Steele said. “But I love the school and the kids. We only have about six guys with any real varsity experience so my goal is to be patient with them and let them learn and hopefully improve. My goal always is to make the playoffs and if they buy in 100 percent, who knows.”
Slater, who was the head coach at Robert Toombs for two years in the GISA before his stint at Buford, said taking over the Knights was like joining a familiar family.
“They were my scout team while at Buford so I felt like I knew a lot about them and knew the kinds of kids and players that were in the program. It’s a great opportunity,” Slater said. “Coach Steele did a great job in all areas of the program and the kids know how to win. We lost some great players from last year but there is plenty of talent still here.”
The Knights are the two-time defending Region 8-AAAA and Lanierland champions but Slater said he doesn’t feel any extra pressure to keep things rolling.
“I like the competition and I like the pressure,” he said. “We’re going to be very competitive again. I don’t see any drop-off really. The biggest transition is just the kids getting used to seeing someone other than coach Steele coaching them. It always takes a little time with a change but I think things have been going well.”
Staying in Region 8-AAAA, Martin takes over a Wolves program that played for the state title twice in the past five seasons. Martin himself is no stranger to success having guided Norcross to three state titles and Greater Atlanta Christian to four championships, the most recent in 2014. He said the overall success of the Buford athletic department is what attracted him.
"To be around that kind of success with some of the coaches that are at the school was something I wanted to be a part of," Martion said. "A lot of my older relatives lived in Buford so it feels like an opportunity for me to be close to a community I know."
Martin said he expects some growing pains as the current crop of Wolves adapt to a new system. But he also said he always shoots for high expectations as well.
"We're an inexperienced team overall and It always takes a little time for everyone to get on the same page," Martin said. "But I feel the pieces are there for a very good season. We just need to put those pieces in the right places. If we can do that, I think we can challenge for the region title and in the playoffs. That is always my goal."
Swansey, who played two years at Flowery Branch, takes over a Spartans program that is trying to bounce back from a rough season and get back into the state playoffs after three straight runs to the Class AAA Sweet 16 2009-11. It is his first-ever head coaching job after spending two years as an assistant under Steele at Johnson.
“It’s a lot different (as the head coach) but I learned a ton from coach Steele while I was there,” Swansey said. “He let me handle some things while I was there that have helped me make the transition. There was a lot of work to do here, but it has been fun so far.”
Swansey has a big challenge taking over a team that was just 3-23 last season in Region 7-AAA. But, he said they are all ready to show that the Spartans are ready to get back in the conversation.
“Changing the mentality has been a big goal at the beginning,” Swansey said. “We have a lot of talent but getting everyone to buy in and be on the same page was the key goal when we started (in the summer). We’ve made some progress and I think it’s going to keep improving. We know we’re in a tough region and I know they only won three last year. But I like what I have seen from our guys so far. I definitely feel like if we keep working hard and improving we can challenge for the playoffs."
Newton, meanwhile, faces a very different kind of challenge. Upon replacing Hazel Hall at Flowery Branch, the former standout player for the Lady Falcons (a 2007 graduate) found a team full of talented veterans that won 21 games last season and reached the state playoffs. But those players must now adapt to the styles that Newton wants her teams to utilize.
"We're going to be very up-tempo; we're going to get out in transition and play the full-court game," Newton said recently “But I think this group knows how to win and really we’re just working on the little things to get better. There won’t be any pressure bigger than what we put on ourselves in the locker room and on the court. I’m looking forward to seeing how good these girls can get. I think they have a chance to have a really good season.”
She added that returning home was a dream come true.
“It’s been a lot of fun coming back,” Newton said. “It was a little strange at first seeing some of the staff that were my teachers and now being on the same level with them but we got past that pretty quick. It’s been a really smooth transition. The support from the administration and the school has been great. This is the only place I want to be."
