Everybody knows that Coach  Doug Creel is the face of the Rams basketball. But there are many people working just as hard to make it function behind the scenes.

Mr. Lance Boldt, JV Coach, is just one of three assistant coaches that help head Coach Doug Creel run basketball operations. Coach Boldt also serves as the head coach of the junior varsity team.

According to Coach Boldt his duties include: “helping Coach Creel scout, help create practice plans, come up with drills that benefit what we’re offensively and defensively, make changes to our offensive sets based on our strengths and weaknesses, and be another set of eyes during practices and games.”

“Coach [Creel] and I will discuss what we want for an upcoming practice, and go into that practice with a detailed plan in place. During varsity games, I watch match-ups, look for mismatches, and help with play-calling,” said Coach Boldt.

“I also enjoy coaching the JV team. During practice I work a lot with the JV guys, just teaching, preparing, and motivating,” he stated.

Although being an assistant coach differs from being the man in charge, they all have the same goal in mind.

“This is Coach Creel’s program, so as his JV Coach, I try to be an extension of what he is teaching. As an assistant, you’re somewhat in the background, but working hard to help try to encourage the guys as much as possible” Coach Boldt offered.

Coach Boldt thinks the identity of the team will be found in the next few games.

“We got off to a great start at the varsity level this year. But we are noticing that teams are playing us differently than they did earlier in the year. I believe that this team will be defined by how they respond to these changes,” he said.

Boldt loves his job of coaching the JV team. He has had success as the team is undefeated at 6-0 thus far.

“As for the JV team, they’re a blast to coach. I try not to over-coach and give them some freedom. The bottom line is they have a lot of God-given talent, and one of the worst things I can do is get in the way of that. But I also want to keep teaching them and preparing them for varsity basketball,” said Coach Boldt

You have to have a love of the game and teaching to get into coaching. Coach Boldt, who is also a social studies teacher, has both.

“I love teaching, and coaching is an extension of the classroom. There’s a lot to the game of basketball that I’m still learning myself, but the more I learn, the more exciting it is to teach it. I love practices and seeing the team grow as a season progresses,” Coach Boldt added.