Reynell hire is good for Cougars
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 25, 2009 1:47 PM
Watching a pair of boys' basketball coaches walk away after just one season left Goldsboro High School needing someone not only committed to winning basketball games, but a person its players could trust.
Four months later, Patrick Reynell is that choice.
More important than Reynell's basketball credentials and the fact that he's never been a head coach, is his dedication to putting academics first and being someone his players can believe in.
Reynell learned the importance of running a program that stresses excellence in the classroom under Charles B. Aycock head coach David West. Fans of the Cougars' program can expect Reynell to instill that same type of academic discipline into Goldsboro's squad.
"We're not going to be successful if we're not successful in the classroom," said Reynell. "Basketball isn't the ticket to college for everybody. I want us to understand how to win in the classroom. Before we have our first practice I want to talk about sportsmanship. I want to bring integrity to the program and I want us to be the bigger man in the battle."
Members of Goldsboro's basketball team were outspoken about feeling betrayed when previous head coach Chris Cherry left to take over the program at South Central. Well aware of the trust issues he'll inherit with the Cougars, Reynell plans to earn the respect of his players through the way he relates with them rather than through promises he can't keep.
"I'm not going to make any promises," said Reynell. "I think when they see that I'm dedicated and that I'll do just about anything for them as a student and as an athlete, I think they'll build that trust in me."
Reynell served as West's assistant at Aycock for four-plus seasons. He helped resurrect a program that finished 0-25 overall in 2006-07 and won just three games the next season.
With Reynell in command of the defense, the Golden Falcons started 10-2 a year ago and allowed less than 60 points a game all year.
At Goldsboro, Reynell will inherit a talented, athletic team that lost just four seniors from a year ago. Adapting to Reynell's full-court, trapping defense should be no problem for a Cougars team that surrendered less than 60 points seven times last season.
Before even arriving at Goldsboro, Reynell had already won over at least one of his new players.
"We're happy that we've got a coach and we're ready to play," said junior guard Devonte White. "With Coach Reynell and the guys we have coming back this year I think we can easily get to 20 wins."
Following two off seasons filled with uncertainty, betrayal and rumors, Goldsboro's basketball program needed something ... anything it could believe in.
That something is Patrick Reynell.