×

Central picks Mock as new girls coach

The new head coach of the Central High School girls varsity basketball program will be a very familiar face.

Rob Mock, who served as the program’s varsity assistant coach last season under Mike Horton, has eight years of experience coaching girls basketball in the Central program. Mock – who was formerly a junior high school girls head basketball coach and assistant coach in the district – also served several seasons as a volunteer coach with the elementary program.

He has coached the current group of Central varsity players since their formative basketball days, making him a strong favorite for the head coaching post that Horton vacated this past July after just one season.

Mock’s appointment as Central’s new girls coach was unanimously approved by an 8-0 vote at the Spring Cove School District’s board meeting Monday night.

“Once I applied for the job, the support was overwhelming out here from the kids and their parents,” Mock, 44, said. “I’m really excited to be the guy in charge. This is a great group of kids. That’s why I want to be here.”

Central made it to the District 6-AA playoffs last winter under Horton, finishing the year with an 11-9 record. The Lady Scarlet Dragons are returning four starters from that team, including senior Mikayla McGraw, who will be a four-year starter.

‘”These seniors will be playing for their fourth head coach in four years,” Mock said. “Some of them have had to make adjustments. Coach Horton was a great role model for me, and I’m excited about picking up where he left off.”

So is Central athletic director Chuck Gojmerac.

“We’re very excited to have Rob continue in this role in the Central High School basketball program,” Gojmerac said. “He has been a coach in our district for a number of years and has worked with our current group [of varsity players] since they were in the second grade.

“Rob is an excellent coach who has worked very positively with our school’s administration in the past,” Gojmerac said. “He truly comprehends the mentality of Central athletics as being a small school district where girls play several sports so that the school can have successful teams. He definitely buys into the multi-sport model that we try to emulate.”

Mock, who is self-employed as a residential building contractor, is married with two daughters – one of whom, Cassie, a freshman this season, will be a member of this winter’s varsity basketball team.

Gojmerac said that Mock was one of four candidates and two finalists for the head coaching position.

“We did extensive homework on all the candidates to follow through properly,” Gojmerac said. “Rob was thought of very favorably by the parents and the girls basketball players both when he was a junior high coach, and when he handled this past summer’s offseason tournaments and leagues that the players participated in. He’s really a great all-around guy in every facet, both personally and professionally, and I’m excited to have him on board.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today