There may be no level of basketball that demands actual coaching like the freshmen level. In a majority of cases where there is more than one feeder school, the coach has to take the best of those programs and mold them into "one team." That coach is responsible for getting the kids ready for the next step up in the program, introducing that program's system, and helping the players adjust to the speed of high school basketball. These individuals rarely get recognized for all their hard work so I thought we could discuss the best freshmen coaches in NKY.

 

My top 5 would be as follows:

1) Dan Sullivan - Walton Verona - former varsity head coach and it shows - most disciplined team, working like a well oiled machine and getting the most out of a lineup that has some amazing pieces.

2) Steve Fromeyer - Scott - There may be no one who connects with his players like Fro. A master motivator, he demands the most out of his kids and gets it.

3) Jim Goetz - St. Henry - Old school all the way, he expertly translates his wealth of basketball knowledge to his players and has his group playing as one cohesive unit.

4) Brett White - Campbell - His team is very talented this year but it's hard to single out one or two star players. They are incredibly well coached and disciplined and seem to be the best team in NKY at the freshmen level.

5) Mike Schack - Bishop Brossart - The Brossart defense starts here. He employs and instructs Code's defensive scheme masterly and it shows not only in this current team but in the groups that have moved up and excelled at the JV and varsity levels.

I haven't seen #s 1 and 3 on your list but would fully agree with you on 2, 4 & 5! Fromeyer does an excellent job for sure!

Franzen from Highlands. The dude can flat out coach and the kids respond well to him.

I'll take Stevie Fro and Brett White any day!

Ben Franzen, Mike Schack, and Steve Frommeyer are as good as it gets for freshman coaches. They are great guys and love the game of basketball and teach it the right way. All three have years of coaching experience. I know Franzen is younger but he was on NKU's Women's staff while he attended NKU. Not sure to what capacity but was around the college game for a couple of years. All three of these guys are good people.

Fromeyer, White, Schack, Franzen.

 

Fromeyer & Schack: solid professionals for years

 

White & Franzen: solid professionals with maturity well beyond their years

Tricia Macke can flat out get it done! Great person and she knows how to get the best outta kids...

Fromeyer no doubt about it!!

Frommeyer and Sullivan clearly but I would throw Ben Franzen's hat in the ring as far as best up and coming Freshman coach who will likely be a Varsity coach one day.

How many freshman coaches have coached at all levels including being a varsity head coach, who by the way led his team to a regional championship & a state tournament appearance? How many freshman coaches have helped to coordinate an entire school system's AAU program 1-8 & volunteer to coach elementary boys & girls teams while coaching their freshman teams, without pay mind you, and will stay late after practice or provide quality individual instruction without asking for compensation? I can only think of one. Dan Sullivan at WV. Regardless of x's & o's, & he's very good at those, I would say he's the best in the area, hands down!

 

I have also been impressed with Coach Goetz at St. Henry. Haven't seen some of the others mentioned yet this year.

...

5) Mike Schack - Bishop Brossart - The Brossart defense starts here. He employs and instructs Code's defensive scheme masterly and it shows not only in this current team but in the groups that have moved up and excelled at the JV and varsity levels.

Tonight here at CCMS it didn't. lol

Tonight here at CCMS it didn't. lol

 

The only freshmen team up here that can truly defend the camels may be CovCath. And they still beat CovCath. Great squad.

You may want to reserve judgment on that until you see WV's freshmen team. CC definitely has a talented team, but many of these players have met many times on the AAU circuit & it is typically a battle. Hopefully they will meet in the frosh tourney at the end of the year, since they aren't scheduled to meet during the regular season.