Pascagoula hires proven winner as basketball coach
SUBMITTEDRonald Norman of Wayne County
Greg Freeman said throughout the search to find a new
Pascagoula boys basketball coach that he was pleasantly surprised with
the quality of the candidates.
On Tuesday, it was revealed who the Pascagoula School District athletic director has chosen to lead the program, and it's a good one.
Wayne County's Ronald Norman, who is considered to be among the top prep coaches in the state, was approved Tuesday by the school board as the new boys basketball coach at Pascagoula High School.
Norman brings an impressive record of success to Pascagoula after a five-year stint at Wayne County in which he won the 2011 Class 5A state championship and had a record of 171-17.
He previously served as coach at Bay Springs from 2000-07 and Raleigh from 1996-2000.
Norman's overall record is 374-146.
Norman said he is hoping to deliver Pascagoula's first basketball state title.
"I always saw Pascagoula as a melting pot and they had a good basketball history," Norman said. "They've just never gotten over the hump
as far as winning state. I always believed the best Class 5A schools in central Mississippi were Meridian and Wayne County. I felt Pascagoula was the best 5A job on the Coast.
"If you look at the history of basketball in the state, 90 percent of the champions in 5A and 6A come from the Coast or Jackson, especially before they went to 6A. If Jackson is the basketball Mecca, then the Coast is Vatican City."
Norman replaces Tony Combs, who stepped down in March after two successful seasons.
Norman takes over a program that has been to the state semifinals in Jackson for three consecutive years.
"I expect to continue to make Pascagoula a perennial power," Norman said. "I expect for Pascagoula basketball to be in the mix every year. As long as in you're in the mix, you've got a chance. I just want us to be consistent. I want our program to build on the things they've done. I'm not re-inventing the wheel. They've had great players and coaches. We'll continue to add onto things they've done there already."
Norman, 40, developed a reputation at Wayne County as a demanding coach who holds his players accountable at all times.
"He said in his interview that if he needs to play 10 or 12 guys, he'll do that," Pascagoula athletic director Greg Freeman said. "He believes that if you work hard in practice, he's going to play you. If only a few are doing what they need to do and working hard, he'll play that group. If he's got five starters and they're not playing hard, he will pull them out and put five new players in."
Norman plans to install a brand of basketball at Pascagoula that will rely foremost on a strong defense.
"You're going to see a defensive-minded basketball team that plays an up-tempo style, pressing type of defense," Norman said. "We're not going to be a laid-back team that lets teams bring it to us. We're going to bring the fight to other teams.
"We're going to get after you and get up and down the floor. We also have to be smart enough to slow it down at times to win games."
Norman's squad twice played Pascagoula in his last two seasons at Wayne County. The War Eagles beat Pascagoula 77-49 in South State in 2012 on their run to the 5A title game. This past season, Pascagoula handed Wayne County its first loss of the season, 46-45, at Gulfport.
Norman will finish out the school year at Wayne County but make trips to Pascagoula to work with his new players.
Pascagoula graduates two of its top scorers in Tracy Hadley and Prince McDaniel, but returns key contributors in the backcourt in La'Datren Deas and Bobby Nettles.
Norman will also have three experienced forwards in Matthew Eaton, Jawuan Jackson and Caleb Caston.
On Tuesday, it was revealed who the Pascagoula School District athletic director has chosen to lead the program, and it's a good one.
Wayne County's Ronald Norman, who is considered to be among the top prep coaches in the state, was approved Tuesday by the school board as the new boys basketball coach at Pascagoula High School.
Norman brings an impressive record of success to Pascagoula after a five-year stint at Wayne County in which he won the 2011 Class 5A state championship and had a record of 171-17.
He previously served as coach at Bay Springs from 2000-07 and Raleigh from 1996-2000.
Norman's overall record is 374-146.
Norman said he is hoping to deliver Pascagoula's first basketball state title.
"I always saw Pascagoula as a melting pot and they had a good basketball history," Norman said. "They've just never gotten over the hump
as far as winning state. I always believed the best Class 5A schools in central Mississippi were Meridian and Wayne County. I felt Pascagoula was the best 5A job on the Coast.
"If you look at the history of basketball in the state, 90 percent of the champions in 5A and 6A come from the Coast or Jackson, especially before they went to 6A. If Jackson is the basketball Mecca, then the Coast is Vatican City."
Norman replaces Tony Combs, who stepped down in March after two successful seasons.
Norman takes over a program that has been to the state semifinals in Jackson for three consecutive years.
"I expect to continue to make Pascagoula a perennial power," Norman said. "I expect for Pascagoula basketball to be in the mix every year. As long as in you're in the mix, you've got a chance. I just want us to be consistent. I want our program to build on the things they've done. I'm not re-inventing the wheel. They've had great players and coaches. We'll continue to add onto things they've done there already."
Norman, 40, developed a reputation at Wayne County as a demanding coach who holds his players accountable at all times.
"He said in his interview that if he needs to play 10 or 12 guys, he'll do that," Pascagoula athletic director Greg Freeman said. "He believes that if you work hard in practice, he's going to play you. If only a few are doing what they need to do and working hard, he'll play that group. If he's got five starters and they're not playing hard, he will pull them out and put five new players in."
Norman plans to install a brand of basketball at Pascagoula that will rely foremost on a strong defense.
"You're going to see a defensive-minded basketball team that plays an up-tempo style, pressing type of defense," Norman said. "We're not going to be a laid-back team that lets teams bring it to us. We're going to bring the fight to other teams.
"We're going to get after you and get up and down the floor. We also have to be smart enough to slow it down at times to win games."
Norman's squad twice played Pascagoula in his last two seasons at Wayne County. The War Eagles beat Pascagoula 77-49 in South State in 2012 on their run to the 5A title game. This past season, Pascagoula handed Wayne County its first loss of the season, 46-45, at Gulfport.
Norman will finish out the school year at Wayne County but make trips to Pascagoula to work with his new players.
Pascagoula graduates two of its top scorers in Tracy Hadley and Prince McDaniel, but returns key contributors in the backcourt in La'Datren Deas and Bobby Nettles.
Norman will also have three experienced forwards in Matthew Eaton, Jawuan Jackson and Caleb Caston.
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