Preseason Coach Interview: Tom Buteyn
1. As Head Coach, what are your expectations going into the 2011-2012 season?
Well the bar has been set really high with Girls’ basketball at GRC. Charlette Muller did a great job the last two years in really building on a strong program. My expectation is that we will continue that level of excellence. We are quite inexperienced at the varsity level, so we will have our work cut out for us, but I love that challenge and I know our girls will embrace that challenge.
I don’t set a number of wins or losses as a goal or expectation, because quite honestly, our mindset has to be that we will win every time we set foot on the court. So really my expectations center around how we play, how we grow and how we handle the successes, challenges and disappointments that come in any season.
2. Which returning student-athletes will you be looking to as leaders for this season’s team?
Well, I think a coach always looks to their seniors to set the tempo for the team, and we will be no exception. We have 4 returning seniors, Ashley Riemersma, Jodi VanBeek, Molly Oostema and Rachel Lubben and a 5th senior, Britt Bruinsma who didn’t play last year due to injury but was on the varsity as a sophomore. We also have two juniors who played varsity last year, Tyra Smith and Paris Madison who will be key to our success this year.
3. What do you feel, as Head Coach, will be the key characteristics for your team to have a successful season?
Effort, Passion and Selfless attitudes.
We need be willing to put in the hard work required to play the style of basketball that we are going to play. We are not overly big, so we will play an up-tempo style…pressure defense, create steals, push the ball up the court, attacking offense.
We need to love what we are doing as a team. If we are passionate about who we are and what we are doing we will have a team that will run through a brick wall for each other.
We cannot have any self-centeredness. Team always comes first. If we all work together towards our team goals, we will be successful.
4. What is your favorite aspect of coaching your specific sport?
I love the teaching aspect of coaching basketball. I love to help players grow in their skill level, and help teams grow in their ability to play cohesively.
Thanks to Coach Buteyn for his time as we look forward to another exciting year of girl’s basketball!!!
