This week CAA is pleased to feature Coach Andrew Erbes in our weekly spotlight. Erbes coached the Glenview College Prep Basketball team this year and took them all the way to winning the Championship game!
About Coach Erbes
Coach Erbes has been coaching for three years now and this was his first year coaching basketball. Previously he had coached for the nationally ranked Mesa Community College Thunderbirds before the collapse of the Western States Football League (WSFL). And before that, after playing professional football in the CFL, he was offered an excellent opportunity: he was asked to assistant coach the offensive line at Chandler High school. He went on to win the State Championship with the Chandler High school team against his former high school, Saguaro high school.
What does Coach Erbes love about coaching?
He loves being able to share his experience with his team as “there are so many things I wish I knew when I was the same age as these kids”.
His 2019/2020 Season
The Glenview College Prep Basketball team seemed to be off to a rocky start this year but Coach Erbes really helped turn things around.
He started working with the team after two other preceding coaches. When Principal Chris Ecton asked him to become the 3rd basketball coach of the season, he was a little unsure at first. However, he realized the team was extremely talented and all he needed to do was bring some structure and discipline on and off the court. “When I took over, we had players suspended, grade issues, and a lack of direction after so many coaching changes. I looked at myself as less of a basketball coach and more of a GM, putting the right personnel in the right situations to win” says Coach Erbes.
He worked every day with some of the players off the court to get their grades up. Many times they pushed through the regular season with only 6 players as some of their best players sat out for eligibility, grade issues, and even injuries.
As the playoffs approached, they finally had a full roster. They had 2 players back from academic suspension and another injured player was ready to get back in the game.
“We mentally locked in for the playoffs with 3 games left in the regular season,” says Coach Erbes. They finished out the regular season by beating ranked teams by over 40 points and moved into the playoffs.
The first 2 of 3 rounds of the playoffs were incredibly tough for the team but they managed to move forward. They played the undefeated team AZ Compass Prep. After a terrible first half Coach Erbes believes his assistant coach Jeremy Parker saved the game with his halftime adjustments. The state championship game, against a team that had already beaten them, was just a few days later at ASU’s historic basketball arena. “After a close first quarter our talent, athleticism, and aggressive play started to truly show.” shared Coach Erbes. By halftime, the team was relentless, dominating the second half and winning Glenview College Prep’s first-ever State Championship in basketball.
Advice and Highlighted Players
After winning the championship game, Coach Erbes shares this advice to his players: “Cherish winning a state championship but understand it’s even harder to do it again.”
He would like to highlight a few of his players who particularly excelled this season:
Ke’Dale Harris: League MVP. Captain. Will play next level.
Nydarius Miller: Captain. One of the top two scorers every game. Played entirety of playoffs with a fully torn ACL. Tough competitive kid. Will play at the next level.
Jesus Barrera: a versatile player who could shoot threes and also played a big essential part of our championship run.
Joseph Herrera: hit one of the most important shots in the championship game. A lights out three-point shooter!
Anthony Franklin: Captain, a riding Senior, will play basketball at the college level.
Dimitrius Harris: Rising Junior. Championship Game MVP. A leading scorer and essential big man.
Hayden Orlando: A rising Junior. Rebound Leader. Greatly improved, hoping for even more from him in 2021.
Coach Erbes, thank you from CAA for your hard work and dedication this season. We look forward to seeing you and your team work towards the same goal again next season!