![Halle Minchin-Skook is the new head basketball coach.](https://shsstudentprints.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/skook.png)
Halle Minchin-Skook has been a basketball coach here at Struthers for 10 years, but next season she gets the chance to take over as head Varsity coach.
Getting a head coaching position could be quite nerve racking because when all else fails everyone looks to you to take over. Minchin-Skook has the experience as she also went and played basketball at Struthers. She knows the games, and also knows the players because she’s been the assistant coach all these years. Although the season is still a while away, it’s never too early to start preparing for it.
Being a head coach can be a little intimidating, but could also be so reading if you get to see your team succeed.
“I am very excited to be able to lead this team, but I cannot lie, I am also nervous. I am very competitive and I hold myself to very high standards, and that’s where my nerves come from,” says Minchin-Skook.
The off-season is the most important part of every season. Without a good off-season, you won’t start the season fresh and ready like other teams will. It’s where you really condition and get stronger; it’s also a great time for you to make mistakes and learn how to play with your team.
Lifting and conditioning is the most important part of the off-season, so that way when the season rolls around you can focus more on game plans.
“I plan on stressing fundamental skills and working on doing the little things that end up making a big difference during games. We will definitely be working on our strength and conditioning, and I want to get the girls playing as much as they can,” says Minchin-Skook.
The girls basketball team has a ton of potential this year because of the amount of girls coming back next season. They lost two seniors that they will miss dearly, but know that they have to continue what they didn’t do this year next year. The whole team needs to come together to be as great as they possibly can.
Making the team reach full potential is number one on the new coaches list.
“I see the potential we have with the talent we have, and I don’t think we’ve begun to scratch the surface of what we can achieve. I grew up and played my way through the Struthers Program and to get to represent the program at this level now was a no brainer for me. The pride I feel for this program and this city is unmatched, I could never coach basketball anywhere else but here,” says Minchin- Skook.