By JEANETTE BORLAND
Rip staff writer
After two years as the assistant coach, Brent Davis is the new head coach for the Bakersfield College men’s basketball team.
Davis is no rookie to the sport. He coached the Redwood High School team in Visalia for the 1997-98 season. He didn’t coach in 1998-99 but played guard for College of Sequoias. After that, he became an assistant coach from 1999-2002 at San Diego Mesa College and then became an assistant at BC.
Former head coach George Nessman will continue his coaching at the University of California, Berkeley.
Last year, BC finished 12-14 and they took fourth in the Western State Conference.
Davis, single and originally from the Visalia area, has many goals for the upcoming team.
As the new coach, Davis said he “wants to have a solid program that the school can be proud of.” As he looks ahead to the season, he wants the team to be very competitive, play an uptempo style of basketball and have a tough defense.
Practices will start Oct. 15 and the first game is Nov. 12 at BC against College of Sequoias.
Davis is not just about making sure the players are playing their best, but also doing their best.
“I want to teach the guys life skills, like showing up on time and doing good in their school work as well,” Davis said.
Davis also said that he wants the dedication levels of the players to go up. When asked if being a head coach for a basketball team has been a dream come true, he said, “It is something that I have been working toward.”
Davis didn’t think he would reach that goal so soon. “I am blessed to be where I am right now,” he said.