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BRIMLEY - Scout Hester received a unanimous vote of approval to be the next head coach of the Brimley Bays boys' varsity basketball team at the Brimley Board of Education's regularly scheduled April 17 meeting. Hester will replace long-time Bays coach, Reg Robbins, who resigned the day after his Bays' squad lost to the Cedarville Trojans in the first round of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Districts.
Hester, a Cedarville native, graduated from Les Cheneaux Community Schools in 1982, where he lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track. After high school, he attended Lake Superior State University for two years, until joining the Army, where he served as a paratrooper. After fulfilling his commitment to the Army, Hester attended East Carolina University, where he graduated in 1991. He currently teaches physical education and health at Brimley Area Schools.
Hester said he got into coaching while he was student teaching in North Carolina. While he has coached at all levels, including high school track and football, Hester said the Bays Head Coaching job is his first varsity level basketball coaching job. As the coach of the Brimley J.V. squad for the past four seasons, Hester has not had a losing season. They finished 16-4, 18-2, 18-2 and 10-10, with him at the helm.
"I'm really excited to have this opportunity," Hester said of his promotion to head coach. "We're certainly going to have some challenges next year. Cedarville is going to be Cedarville and Engadine should have a good squad, as well. But hard work alone can help you win ball games. I want our team to be a hard-working team that fans can be proud of."
As the varsity coach, Hester added that fans can expect to see a completely different style of basketball played than what they've grown accustomed to over the years. While he plans on emphasizing team defense, discipline, and the ability to push the ball up and down the floor, he said fans could also expect to see an entirely new offense next year. His "new look" offense would include more and different offensive sets, complete with new plays and schemes.
Regardless of what plays, schemes, or strategies he decides to bring with him to his new position next year, fans can expect Hester to bring something else with him as well - a passion for the game and the desire to win.
"Basketball has always been my first love," Hester admitted. "I liked playing football and baseball, but basketball has always been my passion. Hopefully, I can do a good job for the school and for the community and be here for a long time."
