The head coach spot is full of hard work, organization, and dedication for its team’s overall success. Longtime assistant coach, Eric Toot, has recently been named head coach of the girls basketball team, taking over after the retirement of Bob Martin. Alongside basketball, Toot also teaches history at BJHS. 

Toot is prepared for the role as he has been around basketball for nearly his whole life, whether that was playing, coaching or watching his favorite player, Larry Bird, on his television set.

“There wasn’t a lot to do out in the country when we moved there,” Toot said. “But there was a basketball goal, so my mom bought me a ball and I immediately fell in love with the sport.” 

Toot began to play basketball ever since he was seven-years old and plans to continue experiencing the game through coaching the BHS girls basketball team.

“My goal is for the girls to be a very competitive team,” Toot said. “When people watch us play, I want them to see a team that is tough; a team that gives a great effort every night and represents our community with pride.”

This basketball season will be extremely competitive across all 4A schools competing in it. Toot hopes to match their opponents intensity and be a team that their opponents respect, but hate to play against.

“We’re in an incredibly tough league,” Toot said. “There will be numerous challenges that we look forward to, I think we have the ability to play with all of our opponents but none of them will be easy.”

Players are excited about the hiring of Toot as their head coach and appreciated his coaching this summer.

“The summer camps and Wellsville league we participated in during summer went really well and our team is closer than ever,” Samantha Scraper said. “Coach Toot really pushed us to be better and improve even when it wasn’t during the in-season. This is going to help us a lot.”

Activities Director Gary Stevanus is eager for the season to start and feels Toot will impact the team heavily. “Coach Toot brings a wealth of knowledge,” Stevanus said. “ He has experience coaching from the collegiate level, but most importantly he’s been around the girls so he knows their strengths and weaknesses and he will use that knowledge as he puts a stamp on the program after Coach Martin’s fantastic career.”