Cardinals hire basketball coach

MEDICAL LAKE - Brett Ward is the new head coach of the Medical Lake High School girls varsity basketball team. Ward, 31, has worked as an educator and assistant boys basketball and football coach for the past six years at the institution.

He also coaches middle school boys' basketball, but with the acceptance of the high school position, Ward wants to transition into coaching the girls' team for the middle school. Doing so, he said, will be beneficial because he will coach a lot of the same kids.

"That transition just makes sense, because I will get to coach the girls' team for a year while they are in middle school," Ward said. "That will get them familiar with the program and it should make the transition into high school basketball easier for them."

Ward said that although the season doesn't start until fall, he is already in the process of organizing a basketball camp for area kids. He believes it's essential to give kids the opportunity to get involved in organized sports and see if they are interested.

The camp is June 20–23 at the Medical Lake Middle School.

"We're running those camps for everyone in the area ages 5 to 13 to come out and get a week of basketball in," Ward said. "Boys, girls, players of all skill levels are invited -and we will have a good spot for everyone.

"It (the camp) can help us get to know the athletes at a younger age, and get them out playing basketball and help them develop their skills."

Ward said he likes coaching a smaller program because the coach needs to adjust to the kids playing year to year.

"You don't go out and recruit kids like some programs have the ability to do," Ward said. "Instead, you take what you have and maximize that, by encouraging and coaching these kids to reach their full potential."

With five players returning to the varsity squad, Ward is optimistic the team will have a good season. As the freshman English teacher at the high school, Ward is very familiar with his younger players.

"I literally get to know every student in the school, because we only have one freshman English teacher," Ward said. "These girls that play basketball are awesome kids are some very hard workers, so it gets me pretty hyped to coach them up and help build them up as people and players."