Kirbyville hires basketball coach

[AggiesAreWe]

Kirbyville hires basketball coach


KIRBYVILLE

By David Henry


Kirbyville athletic director and head football coach Greg Neece hopes hiring Jerry Stapert as head coach will be the first step in turning around the team’s struggling basketball program, which went 0-12 in district play in 2011.

Stapert has been the head basketball coach and athletic director at Brookeland the last two seasons.

“I’m really excited because Coach Neece wants to turn things around and have a successful basketball program here,” Stapert said. “Neece has great ideas for making it an event here in Kirbyville that everybody will be proud to go to like football is on Friday night.”

Stapert was the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year in 2008 after leading Spurger to a 28-8 record and a trip to the Class A regional final. Stapert coached the Kirbyville basketball team in 2009 before leaving for Brookeland.

“He’s a good man, good coach, who does basketball right,” Neece said.

Stapert says there is good young talent coming up in the basketball program, including the incoming eighth grade group that his son is a part of. That group went to nationals in Little Dribblers the last two years, Stapert said.

Stapert says he’ll bring an up-tempo style of play including pressing and running.

“I feel that will work well with the type of athletes we have in Kirbyville,” Stapert said. “The first thing is working on our skill base and fundamentals.”

In addition to Stapert, Neece also hired Ted Williams as defensive coordinator on Tuesday night to replace W.T. Johnston, who took over as the Newton head football coach/athletic director in December.

Williams was the offensive coordinator at Jasper last season and coached in Kirbyville for the 2007 and 2008 seasons, coaching the secondary in 2008.

Williams, who has never been a defensive coordinator before, will run a 4-3 attacking-style of defense.

“He’s very well thought of in the community,” Neece said of Williams. “He coaches with a lot of emotion. The kids love him and are excited about him. He demands 100 percent and pushes them to the limit.”

[bobbymcgee]

he was at Kville before? why did he leave?

[AggiesAreWe]

[quote name="bobbymcgee" post="1000766" timestamp="1303399601"]
he was at Kville before? why did he leave?
[/quote]

Coach Stapert was there for one year, 2008-09.

My understanding that Alvarez wasn't too cooperative. ;)

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

he's gonna make kville a contender for region 3, give it 2-3 years

[Guest speechless]

Where did Buddy Bush go?

[AggiesAreWe]

[quote name="speechless" post="1000852" timestamp="1303411189"]
Where did Buddy Bush go?
[/quote]

Willis high school, head girls basketball coach.

His wife got a great job in Conroe, could not pass up that offer. $$$$

[no-look]

[quote name="I dont play well with Jaguars" post="1000770" timestamp="1303400040"]
he's gonna make kville a contender for region 3, give it 2-3 years
[/quote]Maybe he cn get some athletes  in the gym......

[whsalum]

Great guy and will do a great job if given the chance.

[bigbasketballfan]

Wisk K'ville luck. K'ville should know what Stapert is about as he was there what 2 or 3 years ago? The players will do a lot of running, baseline to baseline thats for sure.