Brad Gray takes over for the highly successful Jim Maples as the varsity coach of the Lady Patriots.

Q. Coach congratulations on your first head coaching position! What are your feelings following the winningest coach in school history, Jim Maples?

A. Coach Maples did an excellent job during his time here as coach. His teams have definitely set the bar high. My staff and I hope to not only continue the success, but add to it. I am looking very forward to the challenge that lies ahead.

Q. Can you share with us your coaching background and philosophy about the game?

A. I began my coaching career here at Tri-Village during the 2000-2001 season with the boys basketball program. I coached for six years as a member of the Tri-Village boys basketball staff before accepting this position. I spent three of those seasons as a high school assistant and three years as the 8th grade coach. I really was lucky to have got started with such an experienced staff in Lee Falknor, Matt Renfro, and Bill Moore. The last couple of seasons I got to learn from Coach Sagester, who brings a tremendous amount of x’s and o’s knowledge to the table. I still maintain a close relationship with all of those guys and pick their brains as much as I can. The philosophy that our staff is really trying to implement to the team is to work hard, work smart, and work together. We believe that having the proper mindset is extremely important and assign a meaning to each letter of the word mindset (mental toughness, indivisible, not about me, discipline, serve the program, effort, Tri-Village is bigger than any individual).

Q. What can you tell us about this year’s team?

A. We are very young this year, with only one senior on the team. However, I feel that we do have experience even though we are young. Kaley Stahl, Tina Allison, and Addie Overfield all return with starting experience at the varsity level and Amelia Frazier lettered at the varsity level last year as well. We do have good size and versatility with our size as well. We are stressing the running game to the kids and they are still trying to adapt to that style right now, but they are making progress. We also are stressing the importance of physical defense and they have taken to it pretty good so far.

Q. What are your expectations for the program and the team this year?

A. I have very high expectations and expect our players to have high expectations as well. We demand a lot of our players as far as work ethic and commitment is concerned. The girls are still adjusting to the coaching change, but have really done an excellent job so far. I think that once the girls get completely comfortable with the new system they have been asked to learn, we can have a very competitive team. We gauge our success based on effort rather than wins and losses and so far the effort has been excellent. The wins and losses will take care of themselves as long as the girls continue to work like they have been.

Q. What is the league like this year and who do you see as the top teams?

A. I think that the league will be very competitive. Miami East is supposed to enter the league with an outstanding team and from what I have heard could be the team to beat. You always know that Covington, Arcanum, and Franklin-Monroe are going to be competitive as well. Mississinawa Valley is returning a lot of experienced players from last year and will be in the running. I really look for the league to be exciting this year and hope that we can throw our names into the hat as well.

Q. What else would you like to say to the community at large?

A. I just want to thank the community ahead of time for all the support I know that they will show the girls this year and the years to come. I have said since I came to Tri-Village that we have amazing fans. They always show support no matter where we are playing or how we are playing. They are truly passionate about basketball. The team is working extremely hard and I think you will be proud when you watch them play. I look forward to opening the season at the Bill Burkett tournament on Friday and hope that you all can come out and support us.

Coach thanks for your time and good luck this season!