New Basketball Coach Brings a Spark to Lady Gators team

There is a new energy in the women’s basketball team.
The Gators have not had a winning season in 13 years under five different head coaches. This year the Gators have a new coaching staff and a new energy. Head coach, Demetrius McQuarn, a passionate and young coach, who specializes in player development, was described as, “Amazing, encouraging, and helpful towards players goals” by returning player Courtney Youngblood. Coach McQuarn did not come alone; he brought his good friend Markeith Brown, who is the Gators’ assistant coach. According to McQuarn, Brown has been his teammate since AAU basketball and they both love the game with an immense passion.

McQuarn was asked how his relationship with Coach Brown will affect the team and he answers, “Tremendously, I have a guy who can be honest with me and I can be honest to.” Coach McQuarn and Coach Brown are very invested in the program and have put in a lot of work for the team.
The Gators have three returning players, including one of their taller players, forward, Youngblood. She was asked how she felt about this upcoming season and she said, “Coach McQuarn did a great job of developing a new culture, the dynamics are different, players are being held accountable, and they’re more discipline this year”.

According to Youngblood they just got off two weeks of practicing twice a day while still having classes to attend. Youngblood claims that players are very encouraging towards each other and are starting to show true commitment by voluntarily going to the gym to get better on their own time. Youngblood is very mature and wants to lead by example for her teammates.
Coach McQuarn is also trying to help his players get to the next level. According to Coach McQuarn, “If you put your career in your coach’s hands you would hope that they would give you a job.”

Youngblood claims that Coach McQuarn spends a lot of time contacting coaches on the next level and try to get his players there. Coach McQuarn was a former athlete so he knows exactly how it works and how it feels to be in their shoes. He is the perfect spark for this team, he’s still young and can connect to the players closely, he’s looking out for all of his players and wants to see them succeed.  
McQuarn was asked why do the players feel like there is a new energy and he says, “Because we try to treat this like a Division 1 program”.
He claims that he is holding his players accountable with their diet, training, and school work. He’s treating the program like a Division 1 program so he expects his girls to treat it like one. He has high expectation this year and goals to try and win their league this season.
The Gators have a Jamboree coming up, Nov 4, here at Green River. The details are still to be determined. Their first game will be a home game against Multnomah University at 3 pm on Nov. 18. Go support your Lady Gators, they have a lot of potential to do great things this year.