This year, there has been a shakeup at the position of boys’ basketball coach for varsity. Brian Stone has taken over for Jobe Zulu. Both the former basketball coach and former girls’ volleyball coach, Stone has an inordinate amount of experience with IHS Athletics. Currently, the team sports an excellent 14–1 record, leading the STAC West. I sat down with Stone to chat about his experiences as a coach.
Isaiah Gutman ’19: Which team do you coach at IHS?
Brian Stone: I coach the Ithaca boys’ varsity basketball team.
IG: How many years have you been coaching at IHS?
BS: This is [year] 22.
IG: Impressive. What are some the differences you notice between coaching volleyball and basketball?
BS: They are just different sports in general; when I was coaching volleyball I had a lot to learn, a big learning curve when I started. I went to talk to the Cornell women’s coach to get information because in the situation when I took over the school couldn’t find a coach, so I decided to step in and do my best.
IG: When you go to the locker room at halftime without the lead, how do you pump up your players for the second half?
BS: I just think it is important that they stay focused on what we are doing, and if they are prepared, things should work out in general. Not always, but being prepared is important and I try to make sure that the teams I coach are prepared to be as successful as possible.
IG: Do you have any pregame rituals that you would be willing to share?
BS: I really do not have any pregame rituals at all. I’m pretty boring.
IG: If you could coach any NBA team, which would it be?
BS: The New York Knicks.
IG: If you could talk to any coach of college basketball or in the NBA, who would it be?
BS: That’s a tough question. I might talk to Roy Williams at North Carolina, maybe the Duke coach.
IG: Which NBA Player would be the most fun to coach, in your opinion?
BS: LeBron James.