New coaching additions giving back to their home teams

The Bureau Valley, Hall and Princeton boys basketball teams are taking pieces of their past victories to help with their present success.

Storm coach Jason Marquis has added two stalwarts from his 2018 Sweet 16 Storm team, Andrew Petros and Corbin Endress, to his coaching staff this season.

Hall counterpart Mike Filippini has brought back former Red Devil Jimmy DeAngelo, along with his dad, Mike, a former St. Bede Bruin, to the Red Devils staff.

At Princeton, 2018 alum Garrett Allen has returned to Tiger Town as JV head coach. He joins a pair of other former PHS players on staff, brother and sister Daniel (2009) and Anna (2019) Murray.

The St. Bede staff is full of alums like Jake Delaney, Alex Schwab and Andrew Pyszka.

Marquis, who is a 2004 alum, has made a commitment to bring back former players to his staff, most recently Carter Salisbury and Parker Neuhalfen. He said Petros, who was always his daughter Marissa’s favorite player, and Endress, are from the same mold.

“They’re both smart, articulate, dedicated and hard working. When I think who I want our kids around, I want them around those two,” Marquis said.

Endress and Petros, he said, are examples of what hard work can do for players. In addition to reaching the Sweet 16, they teamed up to help lead the Storm to the 2017 Colmone Classic championship.

“Corbin didn’t have a great shot as a freshman, worked at it, worked at it. Took thousands of shots on that Noah System we have and turned himself into a great shooter,” Marquis said. “He’s probably the only kid we have to shoot over 100 3s in a season and shoot over 50% in a season.

“I’ve always given Petros as the example of a kid who gets better with a ball in their hands.”

Petros and Endress said it’s all about giving back to the program that treated them well.

“You gave so much to the program, passing all your knowledge, I think it’s important. It’s fun,” Petros said.

“I had a good experience with the coaches and the relationships I formed with them, I want to give back to the kids,” Endress said. “I’ve really been enjoying it and being able to impact their lives like my coaches did [for] me.”

The Storm assistants are seeing the game in a new light.

“I think when you’re playing, you kind of have one thing to focus on, right? Your position and matchup,” Petros said. “As of now, you’ve got to see all five spots at one time. It’s different, but it’s fun. It’s a good a learning experience.”

Endress said it’s easier being a coach with Marquis than a player.

“The player maybe in the moment doesn’t appreciate his intensity and his discipline, making you run and everything. But he really cares about the kids,” he said. “And you see it as a coach. He puts in a lot of time and effort. I wouldn’t be here as a coach if it wasn’t for him.”

Jimmy DeAngelo, a 2019 alum, has returned to Hall as a substitute teacher as he finishes his teaching degree online.

“He wants to teach and coach. I tell him he’s insane. He should probably rethink that,” Filippini said with a laugh.

“I love the coaching side of things, really something I always saw myself doing when I was younger — and just like helping the kids and giving them advice and helping them go through all the experiences and giving them my perspective because I’ve already seen all this,” DeAngelo said.

“Love coaching with [Filippini] and the whole staff. They’ve all been in my life and supported me when I was in high school going through all of it, so being able to do whatever they ask and help in anyway possible is what I’m trying to do.”

He’s also having fun coaching with his dad, who’s newly retired from UPS and has more time on his hands to pitch in. Jimmy said father definitely knows best when it comes to basketball.

“He really loves it a lot. Obviously he was the better basketball player between me and him, so being also to learn from him also is a pretty cool aspect,” he said. “That’s someone I look up to and know we also got the same goal in mind and just want to see the kids succeed at their best abilities.”

Filippini said the DeAngelos were especially helpful in Saturday’s Colmone Classic opener against St. Bede.

“They do a a really good job being assistant coaches trying to keep me cool,” Filippini said. “They made some good subs, too, at the end of the game. When I’m the head coach, I get caught up in the game, and they’re the ones thinking about putting a sub in for a possession or something like that.”

Tigers coach Jason Smith said Allen has been a welcomed addition for the program.

“He’s young, knowledgeable, great with kids. It’s a win-win. He fits right in and has been a pleasure to be around,” said Smith, who also brought on his son, Bryson, a BV grad, to the Tigers staff.