GAME On The Sideline: Coach MacKenzie

GAME On The Sideline: Coach MacKenzie

GAME On the Sideline
Q & A with Craig MacKenzie, Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, East Greenwich High

School Profile:
 East Greenwich High School, the Avengers
 East Greenwich, Rhode Island
 Public enrollment, 900 students
 76 Rhode Island Team Athletic Championships
 5 RI Boys Basketball Titles 

1) What’s been exciting about this season?

Winning has been exciting. We went through a couple of tough seasons in Division two where we competed but couldn’t win consistently. It has also been satisfying to work with the same core group for the past two years. We worked hard in the summer to make this season special, and we feel good about what we’ve accomplished and how we have grown to date.

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2) Where is your team going?

We’re going to the post season for the first time in 4 years. We set goals of being a top team in Division three and earning a place in the all state tournament, and those goals are still attainable.

3) What’s been your greatest success as a coach?

Developing lifelong relationships with my players. Our program has a strong connection to the community, and I want the basketball players of East Greenwich, past, present, and future to feel like our gym is a place they are always welcome.

4) What’s been your biggest failure?

I think I could be a better loser on the sidelines. Losses tend to cling to me, and the last few seasons have been wrought with the frustration of being close enough to compete, but not win. I’ve had to take a step back and evaluate how to manage losing, and turn it into experiences that keep my players and my team growing.

5) What is your coaching experience?

I’ve coached in East Greenwich for the past 10 years, my first 4 as the freshman coach, and the last six as the varsity coach.

6) Who have been the best players you’ve coached?
Players with the best all-around game would have to include Matt Streich, Dan Bracey, Matt Bowen, Cody Crawford, and Nick Rossetti. All these players were strong on both ends of the court, and made their teammates better.

7) How do you motivate your players?
Your high school basketball experience passes in a blink of an eye. My seniors are always amazed how quickly the season moves. I try to remind them often that they want to be able to say they left it all on the court every time they played.