Electra hires female coach for boys bball team

[Coach]

Rhonda Swenson takes reins of Electra boys basketball program

By Andy Newberry/Times Record News

July 21, 2004

Rhonda Swenson is excited about her new challenge, which is to build the Electra basketball program.

As for being a rare female coach of a boys basketball team, Swenson feels her comfort level will be there with a group she has known for many years. As a bonus, she'll also get a chance to coach her son, Blake, a sophomore.

Electra approved the hiring of Swenson, who was the girls basketball assistant coach, as the new head boys basketball coach in its meeting on Tuesday night.

Swenson said if she was a stranger to Electra she might have looked upon her challenge as a lady coaching boys basketball a little differently.

"This is new territory. If I hadn't worked with them all this time, I would have been a little leery of this position," Swenson said. "I hope the older kids give us a chance and I think they have potential to be leaders.

"It's not going to be any different. I do know I'll face challenges from people who don't think a woman could be doing it. But I've had them in the classroom, and as far as discipline and respect, I hope I've proved myself in that area."

The EISD board also approved the hiring of Rogers Lankford as the new football coach and athletic director to replace Matt Robinson. EISD superintendent Gary Nightingale feels fortunate his district had lots of qualified personnel to choose from.

"We thought it was best for our district to stay within our district," Nightingale said.

Assistant coaches Blake Belcher, Jeff Belcher and Scott Broussard also applied for the football-athletic director position.

"They are all good, quality men," Nightingale said. "I think the consensus of all of them is that they are professional and going to work together no matter who got it. One plus of all this was that we have good quality people here."

Swenson takes over for Cody Patton, who departed for Holliday High School in June. The Tigers were 12-18 in 2003-04.

"We felt she was very qualified and will do us a wonderful job," Nightingale said. "She's been in the district a long time and has always proven very capable."

"I've worked with these kids, the majority of them since the third or fourth grade," Swenson said. "Through summer travel teams and P.E. classes, I know the potential that lies there."

The Tigers have on occasion put together a good basketball team, made the playoffs and competed for district, but the consistency hasn't been there. Swenson takes over a young team, but she hopes to build the program around strong fundamentals.

"We need some stability," Swenson said. "The kids start out and get used to one system and then it changes. I'm hoping to offer some strong fundamentals and build off that skill level."

Swenson said she has enjoyed the faster pace of the boys game in summer basketball.

"It's a much faster-paced game and a lot more aggressive," she said. "It's something I look forward to."

Swenson will be assisted by Timothy Hoff and Christie Buckner. Buckner is the girls basketball coach and has guided the Lady Tigers into being a playoff contender.

"We've worked together about 15 years now and I think it's going to be an easy transition," Swenson said. "I plan on continuing to help her and she'll help me. I'm hoping through camps and junior high contacts to develop a program like Christie has with the girls."

The Tigers made a deep run in the baseball playoffs with the burst of energy provided by four freshmen. The basketball team will also benefit from that strong class of 2004-05 sophomores.

"We do have a young team," Swenson said. "They have good attitudes and make good grades. And I've had a lot of support with the parents. Some parents were calling me to encourage me to think about it."

Swenson didn't just think about it. She took action and landed a job and an opportunity to blaze a new trail in the coaching field. And like so many fathers in the coaching field, Swenson gets a chance to coach her son.

"I think it's going to be neat," she said.

Note: Trista Smith, who had been an assistant in Graham, has been hired as the new volleyball coach at Electra.