RUMFORD — When Ryan Casey began coaching, there was a different direction coming in his life. But time away from the job gave him a different perspective, and so a return to the sidelines has been a breath of fresh air for him..

Casey is looking forward to his new role as the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Mountain Valley. The veteran mentor certainly isn’t entering the fray blindsided. He coached the Falcons’ girls’ JV basketball team (14-1).

“Last year was really a surprise,” said Casey, who coached the MV boys’ team for 10 years. ”I felt like I could offer some experience and support. After being part of a high school team again, I really fell in love with coaching all over again. The girls are awesome. They took my craziness on the sideline and played hard, hard fun and made me want to be part of it.”

Casey admits that many things have changed in sports and coaching, but he believes it is still one of the best ways to impact kids, teach, and be part of a team. He missed that so much, and when the job opened up, he discussed it with his wife Jessica (married 15 years this summer) and children Emma, 13, and Ethan, 10, and decided to apply.

”I think that coaching is so different for me,” Casey said. ”Now it’s more fun. and it’s about building a team and being part of a team and growing young people while learning how to play a game. When I was younger and first coaching, it was all about winning and the competition. Now I see a bigger picture.”

Casey believes his experience has been helpful throughout his own life. Casey has discovered a difference between coaching boys and girls, but  he is prepared for the intangibles.

”I think the biggest difference that was a challenge for me at first was how literal the girls took my words and my directions,” Casey said. ”They really listen and do exactly what you say. Boys hear a few words and they are off. I see that as such a huge strength for female athletes.”

But more than the gender difference, the bigger eye-opener for Casey was the change in sport, overall. When Casey was last coaching, he believes the kids were different. Still, he hopes  to show these young athletes that nothing in life is free and there are no guarantees.

”But the hard work and the journey are still worth it,’ ‘Casey said. ”This summer we set solid footing, and those who came to camp, worked hard, had fun and supported teammates. I think they are starting to see that it takes more then just showing up. I feel like we will earn everything we get this season and we will be able to stand proud — win or lose — because we worked hard.”

When Casey was hired as principal at Mountain Valley Middle School last decade, the board asked him to step down for a year so that he could concentrate on the job. As hard as it was in hindsight, it was a great decision by the school leaders.

”It gave me time to grow as a husband, a father and as an administrator,” Casey said. ”So it’s really not a policy. It was just a smart decision at the time. Now that time has past I have shown that I can do the job and manage my time so that coaching will be a positive impact not a negative impact on my job as principal.”

Casey coached the MV boys to the 2003 regional championship, losing toWinslow in the state game. The new girls’ JV coach Craig Milledge was the starting point guard on that team.

 

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