MONROE - Brian Bassett was named Monroe boys basketball head coach Friday.
Monroe High School Activities Director Jeff Newcomer announced the appointment in a news release on Friday.
Bassett has 16 years of high school basketball coaching experience, including 14 years as an assistant coach for the Monroe boys basketball team under former coach Pat Murphy. He was head boys basketball coach at Laona High School for the 1997-98 season and also coached the Monroe freshman team for two years.
"It's fantastic," Bassett said. "I'm excited. It's a dream come true."
Murphy resigned in June, citing a need to have a new voice lead the Cheesemakers into the next chapter of basketball. With the Badger Conference expanding, Beaver Dam and Watertown will join the conference in the 2017-18 school year.
Murphy compiled a 244-159 mark in his 15 years as coach and guided the Cheesemakers to four state tournament appearances, a Division 2 state championship in 2007, a state runner-up finish in 2009 and six Badger South Conference titles.
"I always thought I would work for Murphy forever," Bassett said. "He's a legend and with his ties to Bo Ryan, everything in basketball I didn't learn from my dad I learned from him. Now to put that in to play as the head coach will be great. We were by far always one of the most fundamental teams under Murphy. When we would go to tournaments in Illinois they always wondered how we would win so many games."
One of the things Bassett respected most about Murphy is his upfront coaching style.
"He's a straight shooter with kids," Bassett said of Murphy. "He tells them what they need to do if they want to play. He's straight forward with kids. He's the most detailed coach I have ever been around. That is one thing I will carry over."
Long a fixture in the local basketball scene, Bassett served as the coordinator of the Dribbling Dinosaurs program in conjunction with the Green County YMCA and has served on the Monroe Youth Basketball Association Board. In 2015, Bassett won a US Cellular Regional Coach of the Year award.
"It is evident that Coach Bassett truly cares about Monroe basketball and more importantly our students," Newcomer said in news release. "He recognizes that basketball and all extracurricular activities at MHS are a privilege, and it takes more to be a Cheesemaker. In our conversations, it became obvious to me that this is a man of great character and passion. We are lucky to be able to add someone like coach Bassett to our coaching family."
The Monroe boys basketball team may look different in the style they play next season. Murphy had the Cheesemakers use an offense that focused on passing and cutting. Bassett has implemented a fast-breaking style in summer league play. The Monroe varsity team won the 32-team Summer Slam tournament earlier this summer.
"We have really been pushing the pace this summer and working on sideline breaks," Bassett said. "Our kids have really bought in over the summer."
Newcomer said the assistant varsity coaching position will be posted soon on the school district's website.
"I had some assistant coaches in mind," he said. "I'm open to anybody. Jerry Tordoff will be a part of the program whether it's as a coach or a volunteer. He has been a huge key to our success this summer. If it wasn't for him, I don't know what I would have done."
Monroe High School Activities Director Jeff Newcomer announced the appointment in a news release on Friday.
Bassett has 16 years of high school basketball coaching experience, including 14 years as an assistant coach for the Monroe boys basketball team under former coach Pat Murphy. He was head boys basketball coach at Laona High School for the 1997-98 season and also coached the Monroe freshman team for two years.
"It's fantastic," Bassett said. "I'm excited. It's a dream come true."
Murphy resigned in June, citing a need to have a new voice lead the Cheesemakers into the next chapter of basketball. With the Badger Conference expanding, Beaver Dam and Watertown will join the conference in the 2017-18 school year.
Murphy compiled a 244-159 mark in his 15 years as coach and guided the Cheesemakers to four state tournament appearances, a Division 2 state championship in 2007, a state runner-up finish in 2009 and six Badger South Conference titles.
"I always thought I would work for Murphy forever," Bassett said. "He's a legend and with his ties to Bo Ryan, everything in basketball I didn't learn from my dad I learned from him. Now to put that in to play as the head coach will be great. We were by far always one of the most fundamental teams under Murphy. When we would go to tournaments in Illinois they always wondered how we would win so many games."
One of the things Bassett respected most about Murphy is his upfront coaching style.
"He's a straight shooter with kids," Bassett said of Murphy. "He tells them what they need to do if they want to play. He's straight forward with kids. He's the most detailed coach I have ever been around. That is one thing I will carry over."
Long a fixture in the local basketball scene, Bassett served as the coordinator of the Dribbling Dinosaurs program in conjunction with the Green County YMCA and has served on the Monroe Youth Basketball Association Board. In 2015, Bassett won a US Cellular Regional Coach of the Year award.
"It is evident that Coach Bassett truly cares about Monroe basketball and more importantly our students," Newcomer said in news release. "He recognizes that basketball and all extracurricular activities at MHS are a privilege, and it takes more to be a Cheesemaker. In our conversations, it became obvious to me that this is a man of great character and passion. We are lucky to be able to add someone like coach Bassett to our coaching family."
The Monroe boys basketball team may look different in the style they play next season. Murphy had the Cheesemakers use an offense that focused on passing and cutting. Bassett has implemented a fast-breaking style in summer league play. The Monroe varsity team won the 32-team Summer Slam tournament earlier this summer.
"We have really been pushing the pace this summer and working on sideline breaks," Bassett said. "Our kids have really bought in over the summer."
Newcomer said the assistant varsity coaching position will be posted soon on the school district's website.
"I had some assistant coaches in mind," he said. "I'm open to anybody. Jerry Tordoff will be a part of the program whether it's as a coach or a volunteer. He has been a huge key to our success this summer. If it wasn't for him, I don't know what I would have done."
