Golden Valley hires new coach

[Dave Keefer]

Golden Valley has hired Todd Jackson as its varsity girls basketball head coach. Jackson took over as Canyon’s varsity girls basketball coach when Stan Delus resigned Jan. 15 after it was found out that two of his players had falsified residency records. Canyon was forced to forfeit 11 victories.

Jackson led the Cowboys to the brink of the postseason, going 7-3, but the Cowboys fell short of a playoff berth. He had hoped to remain as Canyon’s coach, but after its interviewing process, he interviewed at Golden Valley.

Jackson marks the fourth different varsity girls basketball coach in four seasons at Golden Valley.

The Signal

 

[Grizzguy]

GV just fired this coach on Monday

 

[hiphopfan]

What is going on here? All these coaches coming and going. This needs to be looked into by somebody higher up. These girls deserve a coach who will stick it out and not quit or be fired every few months. Why is it so bad in this program?

 

[Dave Keefer]

According to new coach Marq Hawkins he plans on staying for the long run and adding some stability. He's the 4th coach in the last 18 months.

Here are some clips from The Signal:

It’s hard to argue that Golden Valley’s girls basketball program has been in a state of disarray for the last five years.

David Smith left the program after the 2007-08 season. James Wilson was hired in Aug. 2008. He led the Grizzlies for a season before resigning. Then Todd Jackson, who became Canyon’s interim head coach in January, was hired in May to lead the program.

Golden Valley co-athletic director Chris Printz did not go into details as to why Jackson lasted four months, but said the parting of ways was a mutual agreement.

In the last three years, the girls varsity basketball program has had five different head coaches. It began with Troy Best, who was Golden Valley’s first head coach.

Best was 27-28 in two seasons, leading the Grizzlies to their only playoff appearances.

The program is 12-33 since Best’s departure from the program after the 2006-07 season.

Hawkins acknowledges a perception of instability with the program. “That’s totally understandable that (parents) would feel that way. As a parent myself of a student in this valley I understand the skepticism,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins was Golden Valley’s freshman girls basketball head coach in 2008-09 and said his team was run independently of the varsity program.

The Sierra Vista Junior High math teacher said he plans on staying at Golden Valley for a long time.

“Rest assured, I’m going to do everything in my power, in my reach, to create a high-quality and highly competitive program,” Hawkins said

Full story

 

[hiphopfan]

Poor guy. He will also have to deal with the boys coach who is also the Athletic Director of that school. Not a good situation to say the least.

 

[Grizzguy]

The program is in shambles and the new coach has no varsity experience and does not have the respect of the kids or parents. His heart is in the right place though so that is a definite positive.
The previous 3 coaches (not Todd Jackson) all left because of the total lack of support from the principal and in particular Chris Printz. Todd also did not leave on his own and it was shameful that the Signal let the AD off with the explanation that he gave. Why was ti that Jackson was not interviewed for the story? A mutual parting only 2 months after Jackson took the job? This was Jacksons first shot at running his own program and he was very excited to be at Golden Valley. 2 months later, he is asking to leave? There had to be a followup question. Go back to the article announcing Jackson as coach and read what the AD said. How does that change in 2 months? Hawkins applied for the position when Wilson left and was unceremoniously rejected. So much so, that both the Principal and VP apologized for their error. There is alot of negativity going on at the school with the program and it is a shame that it is the kids that are paying the price.
Hopefully the Signal will do some investigating with the past coaches and get the ship righted at Golden Valley
This post was edited on 9/18 12:39 AM by Grizzguy