Stone Memorial Panthers boys basketball coach Jess Raby said he is excited to unveil what the team has to offer.
Raby takes over as head coach after Neil Capps stepped down last season. Raby was an assistant coach for 15 seasons for the Panthers before taking the job. Raby said the excitement of the new position has not worn off.
“Some people would say there’s more headache, there’s more logistics, but I kind of, I enjoy doing that,” Raby said. “I enjoy some of the organizational aspects of it, but I’ve really enjoyed the first month or so.”
Raby said he enjoyed the time because of what the first month brings. Raby said Stone Memorial completed and organized their schedule as he took over. Raby said it has been nothing but basketball for the Panthers since then.
“[Basketball] is the whole reason you get into this,” Raby said. “I’ve really been, I’ve enjoyed it, getting to know the guys, of course knowing them but kind of getting to know them on this level and them getting to know me.”
Raby said he hopes the honeymoon phase of his job never goes away.
“I’m a big believer in not trying to run things until you know it,” Raby said. “I’ve been doing a lot of teaching of offensive techniques where we can run an open offense with a lot of different things based on reads and a number of other things like that.”
Raby said he has experimented with adding some new things into the playbook throughout the summer. Raby said the process is slow, but the basketball moves a lot.
“I’ve enjoyed it, I think they’re enjoying it,” Raby said. “Our offense will be a developing thing.”