By Justin Feil, Packet Media Group
Ian Progin likes to coach and he likes a challenge, and taking a shot at running the Hillsborough High School girls basketball program will give him both chances.
“I’m really excited,” said Progin, who was named the girls head coach two weeks ago. “I’m ready to go. It’s fun to coach and teach again. That’s going to be the best part. I’m really excited about it. It’s so fun to teach and coach. Part of it is having fun as well. That’s something I’m excited about too.”
Progin is a familiar name to fans of Hillsborough basketball, but it is on the boys side that he made his name. He led the Raider boys to their first Somerset County Tournament title three years ago and followed it up with an unlikely sectional crown. He resigned and took off from coaching at HHS last year, but he’s thrilled to be back coaching the girls this time. He replaces Barrie Foley.
“I’m a sports fan in general, and I’m also a Hillsborough sports fan,” Progin said. “As a guidance counselor I have many different kids on my list every year. Kids who play football and wrestle, and the basketball kids I’m a little closer with them. We share the court with them. Sometimes we play home games together. I always knew who the girls basketball players were and I always knew the girls coaches. I really did want to see them have success and do well and I rooted for the girls program from varsity on down.
“A part of that for me is I really like the Hillsborough community, I like and enjoy Hillsborough High School. To have the opportunity to be a head coach again for Hillsborough High School but this time jump over to the other side and see what we can do on the girls side was very intriguing and exciting and I’m happy to have the coach to try this again as the head coach.”
One of the clinching factors was One of the clinching factors was the support that Progin got from his family. In his year away from coaching, he caught up with old coaching friends and went to some former players’ games, and he had more time with his family. But his family gave him their blessing to return to coaching with his commitment to remain well balanced between them and coaching. He is thankful for another chance to be back on the sidelines.
“I’ve always been someone who sets goals and strives to reach them and achieve them,” Progin said. “The truth is coaching is a passion of mine, and it is in my blood.”
Progin’s girls program will have a familiar look to it. JR Spencer, who was boys JV coach for Progin, moved over to the girls side last year and remains as girls JV head coach. Chris Fox, who was one of the first to inquire if Progin might consider coaching the girls team this year, comes back as a volunteer assistant coach, just as he was for Progin with the boys. Heather Wells remains the girls freshman coach.
“That helped factor into the decision as well,” Progin said. “Three out of the four already knew our philosophy and principles. That’s why it was a good fit. It can’t do this on my own. They’re all good quality people that I’ve worked with and I’ve heard good things about Heather and am excited to work with her.”
Progin inherits a team that won just twice in 2015-16 and graduated several seniors from that team, but the Raiders are moving down out of the Skyland – Delaware Division that had state powerhouses Rutgers Prep and Gill St. Bernard’s. Franklin, Phillipsburg and Bridgewater-Raritan were all also double-digit winners last year.
“The idea is to get them prepared to play as best we can between the summer and fall so going into the season in the winter we’re as even with other teams as we can be,” Progin said. “We want to make sure we’ll be ready to go when the season starts.
“We have to learn the talent in the division and the coaches and teams in the division and see where we are. I think it’s a two-year cycle (of the Skyland Conference evaluating divisions). If we’re able to make some progress and take some steps forward, I hope we’re back in the top division. That’s a small goal of mine.”
The Raider girls have gotten off to a strong start. Progin wasted little time getting his new squad into the gym after he explained his background and philosophy in a team meeting June 15.
“Priorities were what I laid out for the summer program,” he said. “We’re trying to hold skill workout sessions and practice sessions, shooting sessions, a couple scrimmages — we were not able to get in a summer league because it was so late. We need some commitment. We need the girls in the gym. We need to be flexible. If they can’t make it one day, they can make it another time. We’re trying to be flexible and they’re trying to work around the other sports they play. So far, it’s been great. It’s our second week, and we’ve over 22 every day.
“It is really good. That’s the first step. We need you in the gym and we need some sort of commitment. Then they’re starting to learn our philosophies and principles.”
The next steps are taking those philosophies and principles and putting them into use in the offensive and defensive strategies, and eventually Progin hopes to see everything wrap together in game situations with improvements in individuals and the team.
“We want to make progress during those seven weeks,” he said. “We want to see all the players improve. Our goal is to work with all of them. We want them to become better at all the basketball skills, better as individual players and better as a team. It doesn’t matter what class or grade you’re in, everyone is a team. We’re working out together. We want to build that atmosphere and team camaraderie. We want to get to know the girls and them to know us.”
Progin knows there are differences between the girls and the boys games, but he emphasizes that there won’t be too much change.
“It’s basketball, and basketball is basketball,” Progin said. “I don’t in any shape or form put limits on girls. They have proven to society over the years that they can do things just as well as boys can do. What I do is I try to make sure I’m going at a pace that is comfortable for them and to make sure I’m not giving them too much too quick and that we as a staff kind of work off them and recognize what they’re picking up and what they’re making progress in and what’s taking a little longer and what we need to review more or spend more time on.
“I’m going to have to learn too,” he added. “We’re going to have to learn as a staff how to adjust to the girls and this side of things. I’m confident we can do that.”
Progin is looking forward to measuring the progress of his new squad. He is excited about the potential ahead from a group that has a mix of experience.
“We have a few seniors coming back and a few juniors coming back,” he said. “A majority of the team lies in the sophomores and incoming freshmen. There will be a lot of opportunities.”
Ian Progin seized his newest opportunity, and he is happy to be back on the sidelines for another chance to coach a Hillsborough High School basketball team. This time, it’s the girls.
