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Coach ready to lead young Hawks team
Published July 24, 2007
By. I. Donnell Moore
Times Sports Writer
Married men, don’t try this at home.
On his ring finger, new Our Lady of the Hills head basketball coach Jeremy Thornton has a small tattoo which reads August 11, 2001.
The date he married his wife, Rita.
“I take my ring off sometimes when I’m working out or doing something that might cause me to lose it,” Thornton said. “So this is a good way for me to remind me to put my ring back on. Plus, Rita is the perfect coach’s wife so she knows the moods and hours of the job.”
That is Thornton in a nutshell — innovative.
So, it’s no surprise he plans a new approach for the young Hawks basketball squad.
He said his team will boast a run-and-gun offense with quick players to lead his new program.
“Our game plan will be simple — run your opponent to death,” he said. “But we will use different methods to get to that point.
“I know we won’t have any huge post players so we will make everyone a post player — in a way. I plan to teach everyone to be able to do each position. We won’t look for a traditional point guard. If you get the rebound and can get it up the floor for a quick bucket, then that is what you’d better do. We want to score before the other team even knows it’s a fastbreak.”
Born and raised in Lubbock, Thornton attended Lubbock Christian University and went on to work in East Texas at Kamp High School.
At Kamp, Thornton was the assistant football, basketball and track coach. There he found his true passion.
“My whole life I have been geared towards football,” the 27-year-old said. “But I have had more success with basketball. Personally I’m not good at it, but I’m effective as a coach.”
OLH athletic director and head football coach Tony Bushong also believes the Hawks have found their man.
“He has the drive and I know he will be very successful,” Bushong said.
Thornton also will assist Bushong on the football field as the defensive coach and teach history off the field.
With his first head coaching job in hand, Thornton said he couldn’t be more pleased with his decision.
“OLH reminds me of the small private school I went to,” he said. “This is the best possible situation for me. This school is focused on progress and so am I. It is nice to step in and build a program from the ground up. I don’t have to worry about alumni coming back and telling me how they did in their day. I’m excited for the season to begin.
“I’m a dreamer and a worker. I just hope that translates to my players.”
Contact I. Donnell Moore at donnell.moore(at)dailytimes.com
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