Recently, the HR boys basketball program brought in new blood to the head coaching position. Coach Jordan Carter has been given the keys to the program just two years removed from a sweet 16 run.
At HR, head coaching positions have been constantly changing over the years. For example, the boys football program over the last four years hasn’t been able to enjoy the luxury of having the same head coach two years in a row. However, the basketball programs are a change in this pattern, as Coach Caryn Jarocki has been running the girls program for 24 years and Coach Carter is taking over Coach Mike Gibbs’ program after an eight year run.
When asked about the feeling of being hired at HR, Carter said, “I can’t even explain how exciting it was. Growing up I went to Chatfield and HR was always really powerful. They actually ended my high school career, as they were my last game in the playoffs.” Before coming to HR, Carter was the head coach at Mountain Range High School and an assistant at Rangeview High School. Carter also coached with many club teams before making the jump to the high school level.
So far, the first impressions from his players are glowing. Luke Dry, junior, said, “Coach Carter has been amazing for the program. Everyday he comes to the gym and inspires us to work hard and compete in a fun manner.” Having a coach who has this much support from the team is a key part in building and growing the program.
“Coach Carter has brought new life to the program for a lot of players who didn’t want to play basketball anymore. He has shown us how to be leaders, not just on the court, but in life.”
MASON MOYLE, JUNIOR
Despite all of the raves about Carter, the varsity team had what some would call a disappointing season ending with a record of 2-10 and finishing 11th place in the Continental League. However, the fact that this Falcon team only graduates three seniors, means that despite this year’s struggles, the young core of the team with a player-approved head coach will allow the team to show off their talents in a more typical basketball season.
The ongoing challenge of COVID-19 has meant the program has had to try and stay in game-ready shape despite shut downs, quarantines, cancellations, delays, and much more. “Playing with COVID-19 this year has been a challenge. From wearing masks, to games getting cancelled, it’s all made it really hard to get into a flow,” said Dry. As a first year head coach, Carter has been forced to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic alongside adjusting to the new job. He said, “It’s extremely challenging. We have a lot of young guys who didn’t get the chance to play in the spring or summer.”
No matter the sport, you can’t think about building a successful team without buy- in from the players. “ He makes every practice seem like a game to make sure we are ready for any scenario. Coach connects well with his players to bring more joy and chemistry to the court,” said Moyle.
The program looks to move past the 2-10 record they put up in the 2020-2021 season and build some momentum into the following years. This is all possible with the buy-in Coach Carter has from his team, and the young core they have to build around. Carter said, “My main goal is to inject some enthusiasm into the gym each day, and hopefully it catches on. Nothing happens overnight.”
Nathan Kuhta, Social Media Editor
