IMA SPORTS

Brad Kuron has been an assistant varsity basketball coach on and off at Maumee for more than 20 years. Starting this season, he’ll move over one seat to take over the Panthers girls basketball program.

Kuron spent last season as the varsity assistant for Rafael Soler, who stepped aside after five years as head coach. After talking with Soler and knowing the returning players supported the move, Kuron said it was an easy decision to apply for the job.

“Coach Soler was one of my biggest supporters. I know some of the players and parents might have done some talking, but I think coach Soler really did me well by telling Mr. (athletic director Cam) Coutcher that he thought I was the guy for the job,” Kuron said.

Kuron has extensive experience coaching both boys and girls teams at the local high school level. While he was coaching at St. John’s Jesuit, he came to Maumee to be a varsity assistant with the Panthers girls program in 2004.

After three years with Maumee, he coached at St. Ursula Academy and Cardinal Stritch.

He came back to the Panthers to be on former boys coach Ryan Osier’s staff. When Osier resigned last year, Kuron shifted over to the girls program.

Kuron said there isn’t much difference in his coaching between girls and boys programs. While the game may differ, his style doesn’t.

“The only real difference I see between coaching boys and coaching girls is just how the game is played,” Kuron said. “The boys want to play the game above the rim and girls play below the rim. I believe the girls are more fundamentally sound when it comes to running offensive sets. … I don’t coach the girls any differently than I do the boys. I’m just as demanding on them as I am when I’m coaching the boys.”

Maumee went 17-7 last year and advanced to the district tournament, and Kuron’s fingerprints were all over the success. He gave Soler credit for giving him leeway with the team, introducing new ideas and schemes.

Considering that, he said to not expect too many noticeable changes this season.

“There are quite a bit of things in there that I brought to the table, and coach Soler allowed me to do that,” Kuron said. “You may see a little more full-court pressure defense. Our offense won’t change a whole lot; there may be a few more sets to get some different shots.”

One of the first orders of business is to replace the impact All-Ohio player Lucy Porter made. She finished her career averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game last year, and she climbed to second on the school’s all-time scoring list.

Kuron was quick to point out that the cupboard isn’t bare, with returning talent like Taylor Smith, Reign Hurt, Myla Jordan and Tayrn Pyle.

The job has already started. Kuron held his first open gym recently, and they’ll continue throughout the summer. The Panthers will also participate in 3-on-3 tournaments at Eastwood, Oak Harbor and Port Clinton, as well as the Rossford Summer League.

Kuron said the goal continues to be to add years to the championship banners hanging in the gym, and that work starts in the summer.

“We have to get it done in the summer,” Kuron said. “Once late October, November starts, we’re focused on game one and trying to get ready. We need to have our skills ready to go throughout the summer.”

Coming off their most successful season in more than a decade, Kuron wants to keep the growth and success going.

“I can only hope to continue to carry on what (Soler) has built and just sprinkle in things that I like to do,” Kuron said.

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers
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