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Eagle coach: We want to get better every single day
Coaching changes have become the norm at South Putnam recently and new basketball coach Greg Dean wants to make consistent improvement the norm as well.
Dean will be taking over an Eagle team that went 4-16 last year before losing to North Putnam in sectional. This year the players and coaches will be looking to get back to a winning season and will be looking to give county teams a run for their money.
"Every year we'll have certainly have team goals. We want to compete to win sectional. That's basically the goal of everyone in the state of Indiana. We are looking forward to the County Tournament. We want to compete in conference," Dean said.
Last year while the team struggled to pick up victories, the Eagles were actually competitive. Only six of the 16 losses were by 15 points or more with four losses coming within 5 points. Eagle fans will remember a double-overtime loss at Rockville.
Dean isn't concerned with only the season tournaments or about just winning basketball games. He is focused on making the Eagles better men individually.
"Another thing we talk about is not just competing throughout the season but to get better ever day. We want to be better today than we were yesterday and the next day. We have a saying, 'the process is the destination.' Players have been really good job getting better every day."
The new coaching strategies can potentially have an adverse effect on players' mentality, however Dean said the team's older players have set an early example of what is going to be expected.
"I think we have really good leadership," Dean said. "We have four seniors three are returning. Jacob Carmichael Jacob Schroer and Chad Menke, these guys lead the way for some of the lesser-experienced kids. I'm so proud of their leadership. They are always trying to get better. None of them came here with chips on their shoulder like they are owed anything. They are working hard to be better players and better teammates."
Another thing South Putnam has going for it is the willingness to learn. With a new coach and new plays sometimes friction can be created as players try to adjust from what they are
accustomed to. According to Dean, the only friction is from the defensive effort that the Eagles continually practice with.
"They've been very receptive to the things we are trying to do," Dean said. "They have been doing a really good job competing on the defensive end. The players' efforts have just been fantastic."
The South Putnam season starts on Nov. 26 at Danville and the Eagle coach is looking for a competitive start to the season.
"The one thing I want to tell everybody is that we are going to compete," the 1999 South Putnam graduate said. "We know we will be playing bigger schools and things like that but we are going to work hard to lay it on the line every night. These are great kids and you can really count on them to compete."
With goals of winning the sectional and conference the Eagles appear excited and optimistic to begin their season.
"I have really enjoyed the transition into working with this team," Dean said. "We have a lot of upside. Our players are really looking good. I'm just glad basketball season is here."