Posted: 5/4/05
Girls basketball coach steps down
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Joe Drennan
Sports editor
After finishing the season with a record of 6-21, the Forest Lake High School girls basketball team is going to have a new coach for the 2005-06 season. Rangers head coach Jack Bender wasnít fired, he felt is was time for somebody else to step in and help the team.
Bender grew up in Forest Lake and even taught at Centennial for a while before he took the job as head girls basketball coach three years ago. Bender said he wanted to be more involved in the community and helping the basketball program when Don Bosch gave him that opportunity.
Hired late in the summer, Bender missed out on conducting a summer basketball camp. After his first season as head coach, a season where the team had a winning record of 14-11, three victories of which were in overtime, Bender was able to conduct a successful summer camp. Last summer, the numbers for that camp doubled, proving the camp was a success.
One of the disappointing things Bender encountered was after adding open gym time in the summer for his players, there was very little participation.
ìI just donít think there was enough commitment there from the kids to work hard in the summer,î Bender said.
One thing Bender thinks might have hurt his team in terms of success is the school districtís stance on not allowing junior high players to play at the varsity level.
ìI really believe that if a kid is good enough to contribute at the varsity level they should be given the opportunity,î Bender said. ìThere are seventh and eighth graders making valuable contributions all over the state, and I really believe that if we here in Forest Lake allow the kids to play at the level that they are suited for we would be very competitive at the ninth grade, B squad, JV and varsity levels as soon as next year.î
Looking around the Suburban East Conference, Bender can name several teams that field junior high players that help make an impact for their team because he says girls are ready sooner than boys to take that step.
Despite two consecutive loosing seasons, Bender is hopeful things are turning around for Forest Lake girls basketball.
ìI leave with very good feelings about the program,î Bender said. ìWe were able to double our summer camp numbers in only a few months and we have many more kids that are playing year round at the younger levels. I am very proud of that.î
The participation and dedication of basketball players to play year round at the younger level has Bender very encouraged about the near future of the program
ìI think there are some exciting times in the future for Forest Lake girls basketball,î Bender said. ìThe future holds some size and more experienced players coming along.î
What now
Bender said although heís had inquiries from several metro coaches about working as an assistant, he plans to take the season off.
ìDepending on what happens though, Iíd be open to coaching at the youth level in the Forest Lake program,î Bender said.
Bender has also said heís planning on working with several players individually to help them better their game.
Like any coaching position, Bender says he could have never done his job if it were not for the help of Jim Hall, Jeff Biemert, boys coach Chuck Gunderson, Krytel Lawson, Scot and Kris Simons, Maria Lange, Ruth Iverson, Dr. Joel Buys D.C. who porived chirographic services during the season, all the youth traveling and house program coaches, activities director Joel Olson, Forest Lake High School principal Steve Massey, Ann Skoglund, and of course the many players Bender coached during his three years.
ìMost importantly, I wish to thank all of the players that I had the opportunity to work with and I wish them the best of luck,î Bender said.
Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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