Northlake Christian announced on July 10 that assistant coach Doug Saylor will lead the boys basketball program.
Saylor replaces Matt McCune, who stepped down after nine seasons to become the secondary principal at Northlake, which includes grades 7-12.
“I am very fortunate to be offered this position,” said Saylor. “Coach McCune did a great job of developing the high school basketball program at NCS. I came to Northlake to assist, and to be able to lead the program is not something that I had planned on or even imagined might happen. To be offered this opportunity by Coach Chetta, Coach McCune and the entire administrative leadership team here at NCS is a dream come true.”
Saylor has a lengthy history in the sport. He was a former Pennsylvania All-State and LSU point guard who was recruited by Hall of Fame coaches Dale Brown and Homer Drew. After his playing days, his career includes serving as a high school head coach and assistant coach for both boys and girls basketball programs, along with holding various athletic administrative positions.
Saylor will teach 4th-6th grade physical education and a mentorship program for the upper elementary grades in addition to his coaching duties. The new head coach said he’s excited about the future of the program.
“The positive Christian culture here at NCS is remarkable, rare and refreshing. As a cancer survivor and a coach, I deeply understand and appreciate that every second of every day at NCS is an opportunity to serve God and these young men through the game of basketball.” Saylor said.
Saylor added that he’s excited to get to work and help his players embrace his coaching philosophy.
“I want to play an aggressive, attacking style on both sides of the ball, pushing the tempo, with a balance of playing a high basketball IQ game focused on ball security and smart shot selection,” he said.
“Defense and rebounding are within our control much more than the offensive side of the game, so these areas are always emphasized. Our overarching goal is to build a championship-level program that competes for and wins district and state titles consistently. With the superior student-athletes, facilities, and support in place at NCS, I am confident we can achieve this.”