BC’s new men’s basketball coach is ready to build on a set of ‘foundations’

For some programs, having a new head coach means rebuilding from scratch, but that’s not the case for men’s basketball hiring in Bridge City.

After finishing second in district and reaching the second round of the playoffs last season, new coach Andrew Daspit wants to build on that foundation.

“So far, everyone in Bridge City has been really nice and very welcoming, so that’s made it easier,” he said. “Going from assistant to head coach was the biggest transition.”

In addition to transitioning into this role, the Cardinals are moving toward his style of play.

“They’re used to playing a little more zone. I’m used to coaching a little more men, so there’s been some adjustments for that,” Daspit said. “But I’m willing to work with them and see what their strengths are. They come from a basketball foundation where they’ve been playing for a long time, and that’s valuable, especially as a coach when you can do basketball games and they I’m passionate about basketball, that has a lot of value.”

While this is Daspit’s first head coaching job, he comes from his own basketball foundation: a four-year varsity player at LC-M playing a major role on the Battlin’ Bears who made two straight runs to the regional quarterfinals. But as he begins his job with the Cardinals, he says he wants to be disciplined but fun, allowing flexibility and collaboration between him and his team.

“I let them play basketball. It’s not just my way or the highway,” Daspit said. “I give them a little bit of freedom within the offense to read the defense and tell them the defense is always wrong, and as long as they can execute the play, it’s OK.”