I couldn't help thinking the other day about the difficult task which lies ahead for new John Bapst boys basketball coach Mike Miragliuolo. It's bad enough that in his very first year as a head coach, Mike has to follow the likes of Bob Cimbollek. Add to that equation the fact that his father Lennie coached girls basketball successfully for nearly 25 years before he retired from coaching, and the task at hand is even more difficult. Cimbollek left considerable talent for his former assistant coach, and the irony of the transition of power is the fact that Mike's coaching style may be more conducive to success with the smaller, more athletic bunch than Cimbollek's half-court game would have been. Bapst was ready for a change, and Miragliuolo should provide the troops with a youthful enthusiasm that only a young person can give a program.
Talk is cheap, but every once in a while it's worth paying attention to.
Cimbollek's sudden departure from Bapst disappointed some who thought he didn't uphold his end of the bargain by seeing the program through the difficult transition period. I've got a couple of pieces of advice for the young coach. This can be a fun activity initially, but kids get more tired in the short term in the morning than they do with late practices in the long term. Also, dawn sessions change sleep and eating patterns for athletes who need their rest and regular nutrition. Typically, this is a new coaches' thing - no more, no less.