Coaching high-school basketball is Manny Melo’s dream job, so returning to his high school alma mater makes it that much more special.
“I’m definitely looking forward to this journey as a Tiger again,” said Melo, 28.
Melo, a 2007 Battle Ground High School graduate, is the Tigers’ new boys basketball coach after spending four years at Hockinson, including the past two as head coach.
Summer ball began last week, and so far, Melo said he likes what he sees from a group he described as hard working and coachable with a bright future. Last season, the Tigers went 6-12 overall (1-7 in the 4A Greater St. Helens League), and while they’re not where Melo wants them to be just yet, he added, “we’re definitely in a great spot to build off of.”
And what excites him most about returning to Battle Ground and re-joining the 4A GSHL now as a coach is being able to give back, starting with creating great memories and experiences for his players like he received in his playing days.
“It’s going to be fun to share those memories I had with them and watch these kids create their own,” he said.
Hockinson athletics coordinator Beth Tugaw said the school hired Prairie assistant Jon Warner to replace Melo to coach the Class 2A Hawks. Warner, an ex-Prairie standout, spent the past five seasons on Kyle Brooks’ coaching staff.
Evergreen hires Henry
Brett Henry, who coached basketball at two Portland-area high schools, is Evergreen’s new boys coach, athletic director Keenan Burris said.
Henry, an insurance broker, previously assisted at Lakeridge (Lake Oswego) from 2010-’14 and Lincoln (Portland) 2006-’10, the latter under David Adelman, a son of former Portland Trail Blazers coach Rick Adelman.
Evergreen is Henry’s his first head-coaching job.
Jones replaces Click at Columbia River
Will Jones, previously a boys assistant at Hudson’s Bay, is Columbia River’s new girls basketball coach, athletic director Tony LIberatore said.
Jones replaces Carl Click, who stepped down after coaching the Chieftains for five seasons.
