Boys Hoops Insider: First-year coaches seeing improvements

Both coaches realize revamping programs won’t happen over night.

Submitted Ryan Godlove

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer 10:14 PM Monday, February 6, 2012

SPRINGFIELD — Two area first-year boys basketball coaches — Emmanuel Christian’s Danny Wingate and Cedarville’s Ryan Godlove — are in the middle of rebuilding their respective programs.

While the results may not show on the scoreboard, they’re both seeing vast improvements in their teams.

Wingate, who played college basketball at Malone, came to Emmanuel last summer after coaching women’s basketball at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill..

This is his first season coaching boys basketball. The Lions are 3-13 and 1-7 in the Metro Buckeye Conference.

“It’s been exciting,” Wingate said. “Our family has adjusted well. The school’s fantastic, and the administration’s fantastic. The parents are very supportive, especially of a first-year coach with a lopsided win-loss record.”

Cedarville is 3-15 and 0-12 in the Ohio Heritage Conference under Godlove, an assistant coach last year who took over for longtime coach Todd Shuttleworth.

“It’s definitely been an up-and-down year,” Godlove said. “I’ve loved every minute of it. At times, it’s been frustrating, but I just have to remind myself as well as our team that it’s a process. It’s not going to happen overnight, rebuilding things and getting to where we want to be.”

Wingate said taking over for Moore was an honor, but at the same time difficult because they’ve switched to a new philosophy. The Lions aren’t judging their growth on the scoreboard.

“We’re playing better,” Wingate said. “We’re basing on our practices and our games and how we follow the gameplan. The growth is still a process for us. We’re hoping to see that growth in the next year or two.”

Wingate said the summer will be key in developing for next season. He’s hoping to get his players into team camps and open gyms around the area.

“It’ll be huge,” Wingate said. “We’re trying to get those guys to buy into the vision.”

Godlove said he didn’t realize before the season how much coaching involved also being a counselor, helping the kids keep their confidence and stay together as a team.

“Coaching is more than just Xs and Os,” Godlove said.

Godlove said when he watches films of teams the Indians played earlier this season, he’s impressed at their development and hopes they can turn it into victories.

“The kids have been working hard,” Godlove said. “I’d like to get some results for the kids. They’ve been working so hard in practice, but we’ve still been coming up short.”

The Indians have just one senior this season, an encouraging sign for the future. He’ll also get a full summer program with the team after getting hired late last year.

“Everything we’re doing now is going to carry over to next season,” Godlove said.

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