Sam Ballard brings international experience to MCC
Louanna Faine
Under the new leadership of head coach Sam Ballard, MCC basketball begins their season.Ballard, a Phoenix native, played for East Phoenix High School.
After finishing college at the University of Wyoming and trying out for the Portland Trailblazers in the NBA, he continued his basketball career in France playing professionally for five and half years.
Since his early years, Coach Ballard has quite an extensive coaching background.
In 1980, Ballard began his coaching career at the Judson School. Where his team was named Arizona Independent Atheltic Association state champions.
Within that timeline, working at East Phoenix High School, his team made it to the state quarterfinals.
According to Coach Ballard, grades are extremely important. Currently on the team, there are five players who have received Presidential Scholarships.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be this season. I expect the outcome to be the best the team can be. We recruited very good athletes this year,” Coach Ballard said.
According to Jason O’ Brien, MCC basketball player, there was a lot of battling going on between an assistant coach and the former Athletic Director John Mulhern last year, who assigned himself as the head coach.
The athletic director did not show up for any of the team’s practices, and at the first game he then decided to call the shots for the team.
Ballard requires that everyone on the team eats a pregame meal together. The purpose of this is to reinforce the family aspect of the team.
“If coach sees you getting upset at on the sideline, you will not play. He doesn’t care if you are his number one player. It’s all about team work and family,” said Weylan Towns, a guard for the men’s basketball team.
