Beau Welch has added another head coaching job to his duties at Emporia High.
Welch, the Spartans baseball coach and an assistant coach for the girls basketball team under Bill Nienstedt for the past seven years, was introduced as the Spartans’ new boys basketball coach this morning, replacing Rick Bloomquist. It will be Welch’s first time coaching boys, a new foray that he doesn’t think will be much different from what he’s done.
“We always (say) when we coach girls, treat ’em like boys,” Welch said. “And I think our girls will tell you that, and there’s really not that much different. There are some differences, but we’re gonna go about things like we always do. We’re gonna be hard, we’re gonna be fair, we’re gonna treat ’em the way they should be treated, we’re gonna have some success.”
Emporia athletic director Britton Hart settled on Welch after conducting a search with a limited number of open teaching positions within the district.
“Obviously when you have a basketball position, it’s a position you want to take some time on, and we did that, evaluate the situation that we had and the openings that we have in our school district,” Hart said. “And I feel like with all that taken into account, we found the best candidate in Coach Welch, and we’re excited about what he can do for our student-athletes and our program.”
As a girls assistant under Nienstedt, Wells got to see plenty of the Spartan boys in recent years, including last year’s 6-15 team. Bloomquist resigned last month after 21 years, leaving the incoming coach with key players such as senior guard Brandon Gentz, junior guard Austin Knight, junior post Ryan Huth and sophomore point guard Jackson Perez.
Philosophically, for Welch, it’ll start with keeping the opposing team out of the basket.
“You’ve got to start with a defensive edge,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to shut people down if you want to win games, and especially win games late in the year, you’ve got to be able to guard people.”
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cheese (anonymous) says...
Good Luck Beau, you have big shoes to fill!!
May 13, 2010 at 4:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
Congratulations ! A Change is coming !
You will do good. I know it. You will wear your own shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!! You do not want to walk in the last pair!
May 13, 2010 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Congrats on everything, Beau! This is really your year, huh?? ☺
May 13, 2010 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SWISHA (anonymous) says...
THEY SHOULD BE OK NEXT YEAR THAT ALL
May 15, 2010 at 8:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
Are they bringing Dorsey back ! She had a undefeated JV season due to her !
May 15, 2010 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )