GAME On The Sideline: Coach Solitro
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GAME On The Sideline: Coach Solitro
GAME On the Sideline
Q & A with Michael Solitro, Varsity Girls Basketball Coach, East Providence High
The most exciting part of the season for me, has been the tremendous competition we face night in and night out. After moving up to Division One this season, I knew there would be some very close and exciting games. Although it is certainly a challenge, I feel in the long run it benefits the players. It certainly gives me an opportunity to teach them about overcoming difficulties, as well as raising our goals and expectations for our team.
2) Where is your team going?
Personally, I feel at this point in the season our team is moving in the right direction. In practice, I see more mental focus as we prepare to play a lot of games in a short amount of time. I also feel that as we get into February, the team has one primary goal, and that is to make the post-season. We also want to fight extremely hard to get the best possible playoff seed, and that happens by winning some ball games down the stretch.
3) What’s been your greatest success as a coach?
There have been some games that I could say, but I truly feel success when former players of mine will call me, or stop by, and tell me how much they miss the program and miss basketball. At that point I feel I have reached my number one goal of getting girls interested and excited about playing one of the greatest sports ever. Also, it feels great when they tell me about a lesson they learned from basketball, and how it has helped them achieve some sort of success in their next chapter of their life.
4) What’s been your biggest failure?
I would have to say losing in the playoffs last year. We had the lead with 9 seconds left to play, when Leanna Fanning nailed a 28 foot shot at the buzzer to send the game to OT. In overtime, we had a last second shot go in and out at the buzzer which would have sent it to another extra period. It was the toughest loss of my career, and I think it literally took me two weeks to really get over it. It was hard on me, but even harder for the kids.
5) What is your coaching experience?
I began my coaching career at East Providence during the 2003-2004 season, as the Assistant/JV coach for the Girls Basketball program. Unfortunately, the position was only a one-year position, so I decided to take a head coaching job at Our Lady of Fatima for the next two years. Although I really enjoyed my time there, I decided to come back to East Providence in 2006 once the head coaching job became available. I have been here ever since, and have enjoyed every moment of it. I also have been the assistant volleyball coach for the last four years at East Providence, as well as coached track and field and baseball at both of our middle schools.
6) Who have been the best players you’ve coached?
I have had the opportunity to work with some truly amazing players in my short time here at East Providence. Some players that stick out in my mind are Brianna Am and Morgan Johnson, who had a great way of leading a team. Stephanie Michalopolus and Michelle Fleming were three-year varsity starters, who could light it up on any given night. Amanda Cabral was our starting point guard for three seasons, and really made a tough position look easy. On my current roster, I have two juniors that are starting to come into their own, guards Alyssa Dias and Shania Connor. Sophomore Mary Monagle may be the best zone defender I have ever coached, while injured senior Charlotte Newton has the highest basketball IQ ever. Sophomore Taylor Wiggins could become a force down low if she continues to mature and work hard in the paint. Hands down though, the most successful player I have ever coached has to be Michaela Wiggins. She was the first female in East Providence History to reach the 1000 point milestone in her junior year, and earlier this season she pulled down her 1000th rebound, also a first for a female player. She has become quite a well rounded player.
7) How do you motivate your players?
The most difficult part of coaching girls is finding different ways to motivate them. Because basketball season is so long, I really try to mix things up. First, I try to instill in them the idea that when they play, they are not only representing themselves, but rather an entire community. Second, I usually tell them that players before them have set the groundwork for the level of play that is expected here in East Providence. It is up to them when they put on the Townie uniform, to uphold that tradition of hard work. Then when all else fails and we have a big game, I will usually say if we take care of business on that night I will do something that is fun for them, but not so fun for me. Needless to say my assistant coach and I have been hit with dodgeballs, been targets for water-balloons, etc. Hey whatever it takes I guess!