As AHS rolls into the upcoming 2012-2013 basketball season it is time to recognize the two new coaches who will be leading the boys junior varsity and freshman basketball teams this year: Mr. Matt Oliver is the new health teacher at AHS who volunteered to be the head junior varsity coach and the assistant varsity coach, and Mr. Ryan Waters is Alliance High’s new social studies teacher who also volunteered to coach and has stepped into the roll of head coach of the freshman players.
Mr. Oliver, a 2007 Black Hills State graduate, hopes to emphasize hard work and stress fundamentals in both the junior varsity and Varsity programs. His coaching philosophy centers upon holding the players accountable for their actions because that, he believes, will make a better team. Oliver said, “If the players are accountable for their actions, they know what to fix in their game and even in their classes.”
Oliver went to high school at Rapid City Central, in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he played basketball, football and ran track. In college Oliver majored in Physical education and health.
Coach Oliver has coached and taught before in Spearfish, South Dakota, Killdeer, North Dakota, and in Rapid City. In Spearfish he coached Track. In Killdeer he coached 3 years for the football program. He also coached 1 year in Rapid City, as a football coach.
Oliver hopes to bring intensity to the practices and games. He believes that the willingness to work hard, and having heart are the key things that a player needs.
Mr. Waters, a Lincoln High graduate from Lincoln, Nebraska, is hoping to bring success to the boys freshman basketball program. Waters said,” This is my first year coaching and teaching, and I hope I start it out good.” Waters played baseball, basketball, and other sports when he was younger, and looked to his dad for motivation. Water’s said,” My dad didn’t care what season it was, I was either in the gym or on the field.” Coach Waters graduated from the University of Nebraska Kearney in 2004, with a degree in social sciences and education.
Coach Waters also hopes for a successful season with the boys. He said,” I want to both bring this program success to get the freshman ready to play at a higher level.” Coach Waters said his strength is that, he is younger and he can interact well with the kids; Waters also said that he has a good understanding of the game. He says he would like to stay here at AHS as a coach, and teacher for “as long as they will have me.”
AHS is looking forward to seeing the new coaches on the side lines and sharing in their successes both in the classroom and on the court. Good luck coaches.
