It would be difficult to find a coach with a more thoroughbred island basketball pedigree than Henry Guterson.
A former Bainbridge baller himself, a Class of 2003 grad, Guterson has since spent several seasons at the helm on the boys’ side of the sport. First he was the boys C team coach (2006-2008) and then he was head coach of the boys JV team for the past five years.
This year, he’s stepped up yet another rung on the youth sports ladder to lead the Bainbridge High School girls varsity squad, replacing Nicole Hebner, who unexpectedly stepped down earlier this year.
“My first year, the boys got second in state and I was hooked on coaching,” Guterson said. “Not just because we were winning, but because I enjoyed the challenges it was presenting and the relationships I had with the players and parents, other coaches.”
Last week, 20 student athletes attended tryouts for girls basketball. Though the roster was still being finalized as of earlier this week, Guterson will undoubtedly be leading a young team, given the demographics of the hopefuls.
That being said, Guterson said he has no major changes planned for the program just yet, and, assisted by JV Coach Brad Lewis, is carefully monitoring the squad’s early season development for areas on which to focus more intently.
“My philosophy is I want more than just winning,” Guterson said.
“I want to have fun. I want players to try their best and get better,” he said. “I want us to make friends and lifelong connections and I want players to learn that if they work hard they can achieve a great deal.
“And if the going gets tough, if they dig deep and stay positive they can overcome a lot.”
Of course, nobody plays to lose. Guterson said he has aspirations to ultimately re-mold the program into the notorious contender of yesteryear, given enough time and the right roster.
“Certainly I want to win,” he said. “When I was growing up the girls program was a real powerhouse. I was in the Tacoma Dome in 1999 when [they] won the state championship. It was a great experience and I want to build a program that’s like the old days.”
Guterson said he’s always fit best in a coach/mentor role. Off the court, he worked for six years at Ordway Elementary School as a special education paraprofessional. Though the experience was fulfilling, he said it just couldn’t trump his true love: basketball. He resigned last spring to dedicate more time to Island Hoops, a basketball clinic program which he founded about five years ago that is offered through the Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Parks &Recreation District as part of their youth sports class catalogue.
“I just enjoy being in a gym, hearing basketballs hitting the court and sneakers squeak,” he said. “It’s hard to explain.
“I enjoy the competitive aspects of it. I enjoy the creative aspects, in terms of looking at my players and trying to put together a system, a defensive and offensive system that makes sense; scouting other teams and trying to come up with a game plan.”
Guterson said he is excited to start the year and is looking forward to the season, his first leading a girls team, and has high hopes for the squad already.
“I watched the team play last year often,” he said. “I really like the returning players and the current freshman class is great, too.
“I’ve coached a lot of girls at the youth clinics,” he added. “I’m excited to coach high school girls.”
The Spartans are slated to play their first game of the year at home, against Port Angeles, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30. They will again play host for their second game of the year, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 against Bishop Blanchet in the team’s first Metro League matchup.
