PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
New Lynn Tech boys basketball coach Stevie Patrick keeps his whistle close while watching drills.
By HAROLD RIVERA
New Lynn Tech boys basketball coach Stevie Patrick has seen his career come full-circle. Patrick, a Lynn native, played high school basketball for the Tigers for two seasons under Jim Ridley, a former Tech coach who is now the principal at St. Mary’s.
In 2014, Patrick joined the Tech staff as the junior varsity coach. When David Leary stepped down as the head coach of the varsity team, Tech athletic director Joe Skeadas tabbed Patrick to lead the program.
“I always wanted to come back and give back to Lynn,” Patrick said. “I did a lot of things outside of my community and I did well. I wanted to come back and change at least one life in my community.”
Patrick added, “I was the junior varsity coach for two years here, so I was just waiting for this opportunity.”
Patrick, who has always kept a close connection with the Tech community, said his relationship with Skeadas has always been a positive one.
“We’re like family,” Patrick said of his relationship with Skeadas, who is also the coach of the freshman team. “I went to this school and he’s been here since I went here. I look at him as a father figure in my life, he always pointed me in the right direction. He always steered me in the right way.”
With two seasons as the junior varsity coach under his belt, Patrick said his familiarity with the current players on the team will help him succeed in his new role.
“I think that factored in because I have such a great relationship with these kids,” Patrick said. “A lot of the kids that are going to be on the varsity team, probably 10 of them, played with me last year.”
Also joining Patrick and Skeadas on the new coaching staff are Eddie Lewis, Jack Morrison and Carl Stephens. Lewis will lead the junior varsity team and serve as Patrick’s right-hand man on the varsity sideline.
“He (Lewis) played with me here,” Patrick said. “He was a great athlete in basketball, baseball and football. I was going to choose somebody from my community. He, to me, was the best choice for my community because he lived the same exact life that these kids are living right now.”
Patrick and his assistant coaches will look to bring changes to the Tech program both and off the court. Defense and speed will be two of the key pieces to Tech’s game plan this upcoming season.
“(We’ll be) defensive minded,” Patrick said. “I love to run, so my team will have to be conditioned. (We’ll be) a smart team and we’ll play together.”
Patrick added, “Off the court, I like my guys to be respectful. When we’re on the road, we’ll dress in jackets and ties. We want to portray the right image. A lot of people have a different image about Lynn kids but I’m a Lynn kid and I came out fine, so I can teach them how to change perception.”
The Tigers held their first tryout of the preseason on Monday night and Patrick said he likes what he sees thus far.
“I saw good leadership from my seniors,” Patrick said. “I also like the youth that we have. Sophomores and a couple of freshmen, the future looks bright with them.”
Key returners for the Tigers for the 2016-2017 campaign include seniors Aquemini Gaston (point guard), Dantai Robertson (shooting guard), Jamar Johnson (forward), Jose Rodriguez (forward) and David Davis (center).
“We’re going to bring this program back to the way it used to be,” Patrick said. “We set the tone and we would never settle for anything less than 10 wins which is a trip to the state tournament.”
Harold Rivera can be reached at [email protected].