Reynell to coach Goldsboro boys basketball

By Andrew Stevens
Goldsboro News-Argus 

GOLDSBORO - What Patrick Reynell lacks in head coaching experience he more than makes up for with desire.

The former assistant at Charles B. Aycock has been named the new varsity boys' basketball coach at Goldsboro High. Reynell is the program's third head coach in the past three seasons and eighth overall since the Dave Odom era.

Reynell's hiring ended a five-month search to replace Chris Cherry, who resigned after one season to become the head coach at South Central. Cherry's departure caused trust issues among the players who are eager to play for a coach who wants to be there.

"The first thing I remember reading in the article when coach Cherry resigned was I remember one of the players saying ‘We want somebody here who wants to coach us, and we know we can be good ... we just need a coach we can trust,'" said Reynell. "My heart just went out to those kids. I student taught at a school in Philadelphia that was a lot like Goldsboro, so I understand what those kids go through.

"I'm going to give them ample time to build trust in me and do it through my actions."

A native of Rochester (N.Y.), Reynell played basketball at Spencerport (N.Y.) High School and was a captain during his senior year. After attending Temple University, Reynell began working at Aycock. He taught English and had been an assistant basketball coach since 2004.

During his first two seasons as an assistant, Reynell soaked in all he could learn from head coach David West before being handed the reigns to the Golden Falcons' defense. He devised defensive game plans during practice, called defensive plays during games and scouted opponents.

"After two years, coach West took me aside and asked me to take over our defense and that really prepared me more than anything," said Reynell. "I told my kids at CBA that defense starts with hustle. This past year we pressed a lot and I told my kids we're not always going to get into a trap and force a turnover.

"It's what you do in recovery. It's useless if we don't learn to understand how to recover and fill passing lanes."

Reynell inherits a team that went 19-9 last season, won the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. The Cougars return all but four seniors off last year's team, including second and third leading scorers Demetrio Irby and Rasean Brewington.

Goldsboro begins play in the Carolina 1-A Conference this season.

"That's a benefit to me and whoever will be on the coaching staff," said Reynell. "There will hopefully be a lot of things I won't have to necessarily re-teach. I know coach (Tod) Morgan and coach Cherry were both excellent coaches. It made me feel better about this job and excited that there's a lot of guys with game time and varsity experience."

One of those returners with varsity experience is junior guard Devonte White. White was vocal about the potential fallout when Cherry stepped down in May, but was quick to point to the numerous upsides of Reynell's hiring.

"He's coming into a great situation," said White. "We have a very mature team on varsity. We're ready to do almost anything and we want to get our name out there and bring back our school's tradition.

"I know some guys that played for him at Aycock and they told me he's a good coach to trust, and if you put your faith in him you can win a lot of games."