Reyna Petach, a former NCAA Division I women’s basketball player at Long Island University (LIU) and the assistant coach for the Point Pleasant Beach girls team that won its first Shore Conference division title in 20 years, was appointed head girls basketball coach at Brick Memorial.
“I know they’ve been struggling the past few seasons and I’m looking to boost their confidence,” said Petach, who is replacing Kevin Kuhns. “From playing Division I basketball, I understand what it takes for a program to build.”
And Petach, says she’ll do it with defense and fundamentals.
“At LIU, we played bigger teams, and we stayed in games with defense and doing the fundamentals,” Petach said. “I know what has to be done and we’re going to develop a lifting program. Because I came aboard late, it might be hard to get into a summer program but I’m trying to get them into Rebounds [a high school summer league in Neptune].”
Petach was approved by the Board of Education at last Thursday’s meeting. She planned a meeting with the players on Tuesday this week and is spending this week reviewing game films. A number of solid seniors graduate from the team, including standout player Shataya Worth and point guard Shana Brady.
“We were very impressed with her demeanor and plans. She knows what it takes to build a successful program and that it will take some time,” said Bill Bruno, Brick Township high schools athletic director. “And she seems to be a strong addition to the health and physical education department [where she will teach at Brick Memorial].”
In her two seasons with the Point Pleasant Beach program, the team made the Shore Conference and NJSIAA tournaments. Prior to that, Petach served for one year as head coach at Henry Hudson Regional, where she had graduated and scored 967 points for its girls basketball program before going on to LIU and finishing her degree work in 1999. Petach also has a master’s from Monmouth University in education.
“I was an all-around team player; nothing spectacular, just getting things done,” said Petach, who coached the AAU Middletown Heat for six years.
— Wayne Witkowski