Thank You, Coaches

Marion girls basketball has a new coaching staff this season. Before we talk about what comes next, we say thank you for what came before.

HENRY MARTINSON, HEAD COACH

Henry Martinson gave five seasons to this program. He is a Marion graduate, class of 1993, and he came home to coach. Before the head job he spent a season here as an assistant and four years leading Central City. He finished with 60 wins at Marion.

In his first season the Wolves shared the WaMaC divisional title, extending a program streak through a mascot change and a new identity for the school.

When The Gazette asked him to sum up his time here, he pointed to his players. Not the wins. The people.

That speaks to his values and his humility. 

ASSISTANT COACHES

Coach Martinson was supported by Coach Chapman, Coach Nachazel, and Coach Zaruba. Assistant and JV coaching is a hard job with almost no recognition attached. Long hours. Low (if any) pay. Focusing on players who also deserve attention on nights when the varsity game is what people want to focus on.

These three kept showing up. For the girls and for the program. That is the job, and they did it well.

WHAT THIS STAFF LEAVES BEHIND

They leave a roster with real talent and a strong grasp of the fundamentals. They leave young women who know what a coach in their corner feels like.

This program does not restart. It continues. Every standard we set going forward stands on ground prepared by those who came before us.

Coaches, thank you.

Marion is better because you were here.

One Pack.