Angola boys - Departing Coach Brandon Appleton
ANGOLA, Ind. -- (Updated 4/18) The Angola Herald-Republican is reporting that Coach Appleton was terminated by school officials just before their recent spring break. The reason given, according to the paper, was lack of winning and lack of development of the Hornet boys basketball program. The Hornets went 35-60 during his four years there. Most recently Angola was 8-16. Angola admin must have forgotten that Coach Appleton had previously gone 114-40 including a Sectional title as the Angola girls coach previously. Also probably worth noting that perhaps Angola admin has their program confused with one of a perennial winner. Instead the Hornets have managed just three Sectional titles in the last 40 years. Looking at the immediate situation, Varsity Club member reports only two of the top seven players graduate. Most of the scoring leaves with, but there are three underclassmen that went for about 7PPG each. In a best case scenario those three take the next step and become 12-15 each. Post defense will also be a challenge as the tallest in the program tops out at about 6-2. If only Coach Appleton had developed that height more. Angola does find itself in the rare position of having a head coaching opening and a pretty good JV (17-7.) That combo is a statewide rarity for some reason. Angola assistant coach Steve Helm mentioned as a potential candidate. Varsity Club report quote from Helm’s Trine University bio page: “I own and direct a youth basketball development program in the local area and coach boys' varsity basketball at Angola High School.” If admin would like to ‘develop’ the program from within and from without, Varsity Clubber surmises this might be a way to develop that height. Additional info: HS English, HS French, HS Math, HS Science, Eled. Stipend $8800 (Update 4/24) Good Varsity Club member reports Mike McBride from Norwell has turned from whispers to a very real thing. (Updated 5/6) Hold the phone on McBride. Good Varsity Clubber reports McBride no longer in the picture for Hornets. Now word of a Coach Weber. (Updated 5/15) Varsity Club report now links Bryan Weber to Hornet job
