Huron boys? basketball gets a new coach

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

Tom Adrian, a lifelong resident of Rogers City, who was the only applicant for the Huron boys? basketball head coaching position, was officially appointed by the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting this week. The administrators were comfortable with the applicant and recommended his hiring to the school board. Adrian worked for 33 years at Calcite and has been retired for the last three years. Last year, he decided to officiate basketball, football and baseball, before taking on this latest endeavor. When no applications were submitted, he decided it was time to bring in his.

?I DIDN?T WANT to see the program go down the tubes,? said Adrian, who hasn?t missed many basketball games over the years. ?I could see that Mike (Grulke, Huron boys? junior varsity) wasn?t going to take it,? said Adrian. ?I stayed away from that whole mess that was going on. I wouldn?t have taken the job if Karl (Grambau) had lost his job. I would have never followed that. I?m good friends with Karl, he?s a good people person.?

There was an effort by a local group of citizens to have Grambau removed as head coach, but the school board decided otherwise. In the coming weeks, Grambau would step down, to create the job opening.

?As far as basketball goes, academics and citizenship come first, period,? said Adrian. In a letter being sent to incoming players he states, ?Your participation in the basketball program, as with all school sponsored sports, hinges on good grades and citizenship. Keep your nose to the grindstone in class and make the right choices in your personal life.? He also wants the players to work out on a daily basis and practice their shooting skills.

?I THINK WE are going to be fun to watch this year. There is going to be a lot of screening and a lot of movement without the basketball on offense. ?On defense, I would hope that if we are successful, that the other team would be coming down the court with a ?deer in the headlights look.? That?s what I have in mind.?

Adrian believ

es he has the personnel to trap and press on defense this winter. ?I want them to have a good work ethic, and the practices are going to be focused and disciplined,? he added. Adrian?s only basketball coaching experience has been at the grade school level. ?I know what good basketball is. I know what needs to be done. I?ve been there, as far as being an athlete myself.?

He has no direct connection with any of the athletes and comes in with what he calls a ?clean slate.? Adrian is a former Rogers City athlete, who excelled on the football field, as he was named Rogers City?s first ?Mr. Football,? in the 1960s.

The new coach also is looking for positive community support from the fan base: ?I would like to challenge the community a little bit to be a little bit more vocal with their positive support. Those kids hear it on the floor. They hear it when someone says ?good pass,? ?good screen.? ? Adrian is currently in the process of recruiting an assistant coach, but wasn?t ready to reveal the name.