Former Clarkrange Assistant Basketball Coach Howard Bristol will take over as Girls Basketball Coach at Clarkrange.
Bristol becomes the first new coach for the Buffaloes in nearly half a century. Bristol said he wants to give his all to his new team and the legacy of Lamar Rogers.
“There’s certainly gonna be a lot of eyes on it as probably the most highly visible coaching turnover in the state, following Coach Rogers’ career,” Bristol said. “He’s certainly built a program that’s, you know, recognized around the region, around the state, and we’re just gonna be forward-facing at the end of the day… change what our goals are and how we’re gonna go about them.”
Rogers stepped down last month to spend more time with his wife. Bristol said he feels anxious as he approaches what he expects to be a trying inaugural season.
“Just not knowing exactly personnel, you know, what the personnel’s gonna look like,” Bristol said. “It’s going to be a rebuilding year for sure in every sense of the term. Graduation hit hard, you know, new coach, and not a whole lot of numbers there to begin with. So, just anxious to get a look at the team and get a feel for what direction we’re gonna need to go in to be successful.”
Currently a sixth grade Math & Science and P.E. teacher at Allardt Elementary, Bristol said he will accept a full-time teaching job at Clarkrange in addition to his coaching responsibilities.
“I’ve coached many years at the middle school before I assisted the boys,”Bristol said. “I think there’s a lot with spacing and timing that will translate from middle school boys to the girls’ high school level.”
Bristol said he expects a seamless transition when he begins coaching next school year.
“I think you just got to find a system and a style that fits your kids more than trying to coach an ideology,” Bristol said.
Coming from a middle school program and serving as an assistant coach for the boys’ team, Bristol said he is used to the recruiting restrictions of public schools and is ready to be flexible with his coaching philosophy.
“I’m just excited to get started,” Bristol said. “I think everybody knows what they get with me as far as effort-wise and intensity and we’re just going to go out and have the best team we can as soon as possible.”
Under his leadership, Bristol said fans can expect the same level of consistency and standards as Rogers demanded of his team. Bristol said he plans to build around breakout freshman Elie Gunter, who he said has acquired legitimate speed to her already vast offensive skill set.
Despite a focus on player development, Bristol said he will not offer excuses if things do not go their way next year. And as always, Bristol said the focus remains on running a winning program.
“What I’m not gonna do is get up every week and couch everything I say in an excuse about what we don’t have,” Bristol said. “We’re going to talk about progress and the steps we need to take to make that progress. But we want to be competitive.”
Last year, the Lady Buffaloes finished with a 13-19 overall record and ranked No. 3 in the district in their final season under Coach Rogers.
