November – 2004
Welcome Coach Josh Sagester as the 7th Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach in Tri-Village School History!
Q. Coach I know you have had a successful career playing the game of basketball, can you share with us some of those highlights?
A. Being a Division I basketball player and... beating Auburn at Auburn my senior year and getting the opportunity to play at some of the great arenas college basketball has to offer!
Career Highlights
Mercer University 1999-2001
- 2 year starter at the Point Guard Position
- 2nd All-time Career 3-point percentage
- 7th All-time 3-point Field Goals Made
- 3rd All-time Single Season 3-point percentage
- Led Atlantic Sun Conference in 3-point percentage as a senior
- 5th in Atlantic Sun Conference in 3-point Field Goals Made as a senior
- 14th in Atlantic Sun Conference History for Career 3-point percentage
Dawson Community College 1997-1999
- First Team All Mon-Dak Conference Selection
- All Region IX Selection
- 10th in Nation in Scoring
- MVP freshman and sophomore year
- Academic All Mon-Dak and Region IX
- Made a school record 109, 3-pointers in a single season
Brookville High School 1993-1997
- Team Captain
- 2nd All-time scorer in SWBL history with 1,785 points
- Currently holds six school records, including most points in a single season
- All-state 1995-96 and 1996-97
- District 15 Underclassmen of the year
- District 15 Player of the year
- Southwestern Ohio District 1st team 1995-96 and 1996-97
- 1st Team SWBL Conference 3 consecutive years
- SWBL Scoring Champ 2 consecutive years
- SWBL Player of Year
- Miami Valley Scoring Champ 1996-97 (30 ppg)
- Three-time MVP
- Played in the prestigious North/South All-star game
Q. Who have been some of the biggest influences on you in your basketball career?
A. I've had opportunities to cross paths with many people who have had a positive impact on my basketball career. Either through playing or coaching the game. However, to get the chance to play at the ultimate (collegiate) level took many hours of hard work. During those stages of development without a doubt the biggest influence on my playing career was my family. Specifically, my father has had the biggest effect on my overall career. I grew up with a ball in my hand and it has never left. I credit much if not all my success to my parents. As for my coaching career, I've had the opportunity to play or coach under four different but successful head coaches. Along with my father, they have all had a hand in molding my coaching philosophy.
Q. Can you tell us what your philosophy is about the game and how you plan to coach?
A. I think the really successful basketball coaches whether it's at the high school, college or pro levels all have a system and... I think what separates those coaches from the rest of the pack is their ability to sell their system. Philosophy is important and the players must buy into your philosophy. As a high school coach it is hard to say I want to play this way or that way and... you must play with the hand you've been dealt. At the collegiate level you can recruit athletes to fit into your system. I can tell you offensively we are always going to play to our strengths at Tri-Village. The right players will take the right shots and we will get them the best possible opportunities to be successful. Defensively, we will do our best to take away the other team's best players and focus on shutting them down. Along with that, we will run multiple defenses and our motto will be, "make teams beat us from the outside." The team that gets the easiest baskets usually wins.
Q. Would you share with us your coaching experience?
A. After my playing career ended I was an undergraduate assistant coach at Mercer University for one year where I was responsible for on floor coaching, opponent scouting, film exchange, travel coordination, player development, pre and post season conditioning and organization of the annual Mark Slonaker Basketball Clinic (Head Coach at Mercer). The past two years I've spent as an assistant coach at Preble Shawnee.
Q. What can you tell us about your coaching staff?
A. I feel very fortunate to have the coaching staff we have assembled. I think at the high school level we have a good mix of youth and enthusiasm with a sprinkle of some aged wisdom! My varsity assistant is my dad (Mick Sagester) we have an excellent relationship and this is something that has always been an aspiration of mine to have him beside me on the bench. My father was a two-time all state player and played at the college level as well. We believe we have the Steve and Sam Alford thing going on in Ohio!
The reserve coach is Derek Flatter, who is going to be a great coach. He has the passion and work ethic that epitomizes a good coach. He has enthusiasm for the game of basketball and is an excellent role model for our players.
The 8th grade coach is Brad Gray, who has been in the system for a few years. He too is a tireless worker and I believe he is in the coaching profession for the right reasons.
The 7th grade coach is Jamie Hughes, he recently helped out the Tri-Village high school soccer team. Jamie has a vast amount of coaching experience both at the varsity and middle school levels. He is a loyal guy who also epitomizes the traits that assemble a quality coach. I am extremely happy with our coaching staff and feel confident each one has something to offer the Tri-Village basketball program.
Q. What are your thoughts on following the successful Coach Lee Falknor who has more wins in school history (249) more Cross County Conference Championships (6) than any other school in the conference, a 1991 State Runner-Up finish and the Ohio DIV Coach of The Year Award?
A. Coach Falknor and his staff definitely left big shoes to fill. He did an extraordinary job with the basketball program as his resume shows. He has built a tradition hopefully we can continue. I am excited to take over a program with a good foundation and I attribute that to Coach Falknor and his staff. Usually young coaches get opportunities to take over programs where they have to build from the ground up. Fortunately there is an excellent foundation to build on and... I believe with hard work our staff can exceed expectations and hopefully raise the bar for Tri-Village basketball.
Q. It's been said today's youth are more difficult to motivate not only on but off the court as well. Do you think being a young coach will be an advantage for you to relate with the kids playing today?
A. I definitely think being a young head coach is an advantage. I am not that far removed from the game which... helps me to relate well with the kids. However, I don't think it matters the age of a coach, the players must respect your word and at the same time want to play for you. I think being youthful has many advantages. Energy is one that pops up immediately. Another is the credibility I have established as a player from the area, which I believe encourages kids to listen. The third positive is the next level contacts I have established. Many are still coaching and can be used to help get kids to the next level. This will help motivate players, knowing if they work hard and develop their game that possibilities are out there and... "coach will do everything in his power to help further my playing career."
Q. I know you've had an opportunity to see the kids over the summer and had them in a weight-training program. What are you thoughts so far about how things are going?
A. Since being named the head coach at Tri-Village we have worked very hard to improve skill level and physical strength. I'm a firm believer in weights because I know first hand what it can do for your overall game. Over the summer we played over 30 games while lifting three times a week to improve our bodies. However, I have reminded our kids numerous times that games cannot overshadow individual time! We have two mottos in our basketball program, "What we put in we get out," and... "The harder we work the harder it is to surrender."
I would like to mention the overall quality of the kids here at Tri-Village, especially the kids I have personally worked with on a daily basis. They are hard workers, respectful, and overall a joy to be around. I believe that is a credit to their parents and would like to say thank you for the opportunity to be working with such good individuals.
Q. Since you are new to the Cross County Conference have you had a chance to review the teams and who do you see as the stronger teams for the upcoming year?
A. I may be a new face on the sideline but I have kept up on Cross County Conference basketball. I have done my homework! I think overall there is a good crop of players in the league presently and the future looks bright for many teams. i think there is also parity in the league as well. However, there are a few upper echelon teams in my opinion like Ansonia, Twin Valley South, National Trail and Covington. I would like to think that with some hard work we will be ready to compete before it's all said and done.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers and the communities of Tri-Village?
A. I would like to tell the communities how excited I am to be a part of Tri-Village. Many have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel very comfortable. I encourage you if you have not done so already, introduce yourselves in passing to either myself, my wife Tracy and our four month old daughter Rylee we are all excited to be a part of Tri-Village.
Please support our student athletes as they proudly represent our school. I am a firm believer in home court advantage and would like to see our student body and community support at a high level. Your help is needed in this matter and to aid in this we will be passing out T-shirts and would appreciate your wearing them to show support and cheering loudly at all games! I look foward to the upcoming season and the many possiblities at Tri-Village.
Good Luck and Go Patriots!
