NPHS hires Kevin Corsaro as girls' head basketball coach

ROACHDALE--North Putnam has a new head coach for its girls' basketball team. The North Putnam school board approved the hiring of former Decatur coach Kevin Corsaro Wednesday.

Corsaro has been an assistant coach at Decatur, Manual and Avon and while at Avon coached several players who went on to play Division I basketball. Corsaro said he was looking forward to the opportunity to get the program heading in the right direction.

"I think that at North Putnam there is only one way to go. That is up," Corsaro said. "I'm definitely looking to change the culture a little bit and start with younger girls. We need to teach fundamentals that are more important than wins and losses. It's a big opportunity."

North Putnam Athletic Director Tim Garver was excited about what Corsaro could bring to the Cougar community.

"I was looking for someone who would give the same level of commitment as far as an uptempo style of play," Garver said. "At South (Putnam High School) it wasn't just about building the team it was about building a community. I wanted someone who was able to take a group of girls and get them to believe in themselves."

Garver believes that with a closer basketball community at North Putnam, winning seasons will follow as players begin to adopt a winning mindset. The athletic director said Corsaro was the right man for the job.

"That was something Kevin displayed very much in his interview when I asked him what he wanted to accomplished with the program," Garver said.

Much like Garver, who coached the South Putnam girls last season, the new Cougar coach believes one of his strengths is his poised coaching style.

"I think I'm an even-keeled person," Corsaro said. "That's why I think I'm suited to coach girls. I try to foster a family environment amongst the team.

"That's what I love about basketball," he continued. "Basketball is a game of mistakes. You're going to make a mistake but you'll have a very good opportunity to make up for it only five seconds later. I don't dwell on that stuff."

Corsaro attended a meeting Thursday with parents to discuss his vision for the future of North Putnam basketball. He also met some of the North Putnam players at an open gym.

"My goal is to have at least one team in every grade playing in the Indy Hoops league," Corsaro said. "Come to find out, they have four teams already. We have a foundation already. The biggest challenge is just changing this culture. When you step on the floor, you've got to believe you can win."