Assistant coach challenges 12-0 boys’ basketball team

Laura Clark / Nelson County Times
Published: January 15, 2008

The two have been friends for 15 years, since they met on the basketball courts in Buena Vista. They've coached together before, for two years at Rockbridge High School before Garrett moved on to Southern Virginia University and finally Nelson County.

Early last summer, Rogers was helping Garrett out, but hadn't made a commitment. When the Govs beat E.C. Glass in a tournament, the players were showing off and talking trash. Rogers called Garrett on the way home and said he wanted no part of such a team.

"Help us fix it. Help us do it the right way," his old friend said, and Rogers conceded.

But he was still not entirely convinced. So Garrett drove the mile and half from his house to Rogers', presenting him with a written list of pros and cons for joining his staff.

Among the cons: no afternoon nap. Among the pros: work with friends, have fun, coach a good team, have the freedom to present his ideas.

Because he could coach with Garrett and assistants Paul Pelter and Kelly Decker, also friends, Rogers stuck with the team through the summer. He got to know the players and taught them to play and win with class.

Plus, Rogers was having fun, so he made the commitment and drives from his job at Natural Bridge Elementary to help coach the Govs, now 12-0.

Why did Garrett go to great lengths to recruit Rogers-

For one thing, Rogers balances Garrett. Garrett is mild mannered and quiet. Rogers is outspoken, the coach players can actually hear from the bench. At halftime, if the coaches decide the team needs to be reprimanded, the job falls to Rogers. Then Garrett comes in to smooth things over.

"I never yell at them to fuss at them, it's just to get a point across," Rogers said.

The way he came in and instantly challenged the players has been an adjustment, but Rogers said the team started to see things working, and grew to respect his coaching style.

The second reason Garrett wanted him was because Rogers brought fresh ideas to the Govs' system of offense and defense. He came by sporadically last season to help implement it, but was able to take a more hands-on approach over the summer and through this season. Garrett is sincere when he says Rogers has been instrumental in the team's success.

The Gov offense, as Rogers explains it, is based on the idea of the kids becoming basketball players, learning to improvise and read a defense. It works because it's unpredictable, and as the players see how they can score and win, they become more confident in their abilities.

The defense is strictly man-to-man, even the press, which Nelson often runs. Zone defense is lazy, and it may make the Govs easy to scout, but if they play man-to-man really well, it won't matter what their opponents do, Rogers said.

"It's not about us against them. It's about us. We want to be improving right now," Rogers tells the team.

Rogers and Garrett share many coaching philosophies, including kids winning off the court, through good grades and good behavior. The two only butt coaching heads on one thing: subbing.

They've always been in disagreement about when to pull the starters. Garrett will look over at Rogers as the Govs build a lead, asking, "Now-"

Rogers laughs recalling how his competitiveness reigns in Garrett's big heart. But Rogers doesn't have many rough edges. He sees himself as more of a friend than a coach, grinning as he recalls past players who've sent graduation invitations and still call him on the phone. Knowing he helped a young person become the best they can be, on or off the court, means more than wins or losses, he said.

Then Rogers becomes all coach, discussing how losing gracefully can be as important as the players learning to win without showing up the other team.

"You hate to plan for a loss, but what will really define us is how we'll handle a loss," he said. "It's a long road to regions and state."

Tags relating to this article:

• No tags are associated with this article.

Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search: