The following article appeared on NKY.com on Monday:

 

The Silver Grove boys’ basketball program is getting some help from the professional basketball ranks.

 

That’s because new head coach B.J. Aldridge has head coaching experience with a professional team in Iceland and new assistant coach Corey Pelle, a 2007 Silver Grove graduate, has professional experience as player this past season in the Slovakian Basketball League.

 

“I couldn’t believe we had two guys with professional experience walking into my office interested in the job,” said new Silver Grove principal Wesley Murray. “It was hard not to take them up on it.”Aldridge, a 1997 graduate of St. Henry, has had a nomadic coaching career. He was an assistant at Ryle High School, Georgetown College, Thomas More College (twice), Rockford College, the team in Iceland (in 2010) Ashland (Ohio) and this past season at Florida Southern. He also coached a team in the Kentucky Developmental League, which is also a professional league.

 

“I’ve travelled around quite a bit and it was time to move closer to my family and pursue my career in education and coach high school basketball,” said Aldridge, who is 33 years old. “I love challenges and the bonus of this is the challenge is very close to home.”

 

Aldridge, who will be a substitute teacher at not only Silver Grove, but throughout Northern Kentucky while he finishes his degree in special education, replaces Mike Walls, who went 13-44 in two seasons, but made significant progress with teams filled with young players.

 

According to Aldridge, Pelle is not going to continue to pursue a professional playing career and is looking to start his own coaching career.

 

Corey Pelle is no stranger to our Brossart Mustangs fans. A graduate of Silver Grove in 2007, Pelle and his '07 Big Trains were a formidable challenge to our "A" State Champions. Timing being everything Silver Grove choose the wrong year to have a great team, as our Mustangs were deeper and able to use that depth to overcome Pelle's dominant athleticism. Pelle was adopted by our Mustangs fans as one of our own, giving Corey a standing ovation as he received his award for being named to the 2007 10th Region All "A" Classic All-Tournament team.

 

Pelle went on to have a successful career at West Liberty College in West Virginia, where he helped lead the Hilltoppers to a Final Four finish in the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2011. Most recently Corey has played professional basketball in the European Pro League for BC Prievidza in Slovokia.

Congrats to both! Corey is a flat out winner and has been extremely successful at every level he has played. He will be a great example to the kids of Silver Grove how hard work and dedication truly pays off. Best of luck to him in his coaching career!

Corey is one of best HS players i have ever seen in NKY. If he would have been at a better school he would have been noticed a lot more, and if Silver Grove had more than a player or two to help him out his senior year the trains would have rolled Brossart. I was there and CP had to do pretty much everything for the Trains while being doubled and tripple teamed everytime they played. I did see him jump over a kid from Calvery (maybe, could have been a different school I forget) and dunk. An amazing athlete!! I am sure he will do a great job with the young Big Trains.

Corey is one of best HS players i have ever seen in NKY. If he would have been at a better school he would have been noticed a lot more, and if Silver Grove had more than a player or two to help him out his senior year the trains would have rolled Brossart. I was there and CP had to do pretty much everything for the Trains while being doubled and tripple teamed everytime they played. I did see him jump over a kid from Calvery (maybe, could have been a different school I forget) and dunk. An amazing athlete!! I am sure he will do a great job with the young Big Trains.

 

You will get little argument from me.

 

As far as "rolling" Brossart, we were pretty formidable that year, and he actually had a couple of players around him that could play. Regardless, Pelle was indeed one of the most spectacular high school players that I can remember from this area. While some guys are spectacular in some areas, Pelle was the complete package.

 

Many say that NKU missed the boat on Corey, maybe so, maybe not, BUT he landed in a perfect program where he fit their style and they fit his. I doubt he would change a thing.

Ok maybe not rolled Brossart but i believe they would have beat them. If i remember it was Corey and a young man named Kyle who I believe was a heck of a baseball player. That was pretty much it. CP was such an athlete he was so fun to watch. He is the reason I made my first trip to Silver Grove gym. I am a little shocked he is done with his playing career. I know he had a good season in Europe and his team did win their league title. It is nice to see a young man from SG giving back to the community. Good Luck Big Trains.

Is one the head coach or are they both head coaches?

I believe Corey will be an assistant coach.

Does anyone know if Aldridge is a NKY native?

Silvergrove must not have checked Coach Aldridge's references before hiring him.

Silvergrove must not have checked Coach Aldridge's references before hiring him.

 

.???

Does anyone know if Aldridge is a NKY native?

Post 1 1997 St. Henry

You still gotta have talent to win. Coaches can only go so far. I like to see Pelle and Aldridge are taking a vested interest in the program.

Corey is one of best HS players i have ever seen in NKY. If he would have been at a better school he would have been noticed a lot more, and if Silver Grove had more than a player or two to help him out his senior year the trains would have rolled Brossart. I was there and CP had to do pretty much everything for the Trains while being doubled and tripple teamed everytime they played. I did see him jump over a kid from Calvery (maybe, could have been a different school I forget) and dunk. An amazing athlete!! I am sure he will do a great job with the young Big Trains.

 

No argument from me about Corey's talents and ability to single-handedly take over or keep the 'Trains in games. Good to hear he's coming home to help out, and hopefully he & Coach Aldridge can stoke the interest in that program again.

 

I'll take exception that they would have "rolled Brossart" if he'd had some help, and think that comment does a dis-service to both Corey's teammates and the 2007 Mustangs, who did finish the year #1 in NKY that year. I remember a couple of kids named Wiseman & Allen that were pretty good players for the Trains, along with Corey's younger cousin.

 

I don't think anyone in the area had more respect for CP and his game than did the kids on that BB team, as many of them had grown up playing multiple sports with Corey. again, best of luck to the new coaches and the 12'-13' Big Trains!

Silvergrove must not have checked Coach Aldridge's references before hiring him.

 

He has had 6 or 7 coaching positions and he is only 33? Sounds like he has some experience, but can't hold a job very long? Has he been run out of his past positions or is the grass always greener?

You still gotta have talent to win. Coaches can only go so far. I like to see Pelle and Aldridge are taking a vested interest in the program.

 

Has to be one one of the top ten hardest places to win in the state.