Hired Tuesday night, Steve Finamore was a great choice to lead the East Lansing boys basketball program out of the recent tumult and back toward what was expected this time last year -- the verge of a potential run at some of the area's elite teams.
Finamore brings a couple things to the table that point the Trojans in the right direction:
-- A variety of experiences. From high school to junior college to Division I college to high level AAU, he's been involved at nearly every level possible and has lessons to pass on from all of them.
-- Big-time backing. Finamore's profile on the Jackson Community College web site included some words of backing from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, under whom Finamore was a student manager for two years. Finamore has been in this basketball community in a number of roles for more than a decade, and is well-known for his ability to teach skills. Respected people respect him.
-- Hometown advantage. Finamore has lived in East Lansing most of the last 14 years and has a child in the district. He will pursue his teaching certificate and hopes to work in the district full-time down the road. He knows many of these families and feels he has their backing.
-- Knowledge and enthusiasm. As mentioned above, Finamore has been around basketball on an area and often statewide level for a long time, so he knows what he's up against. But he also feels East Lansing has the talent to make a run to the state finals at Breslin ... which will be more difficult with Steve Haney instead at Eastern this fall. Still, strong players remain and should help the team rebuild, and more are on the way.
Granted, the previous coach had most of these going for him too, and it didn't work out. But here's hoping the Trojans can move on under Finamore and peace returns.
As one coach mentioned to me a few months ago, he felt this was the best high school coaching job in the state. Finamore has a chance to accomplish some big things once everyone is back on the same page. Starting with a CAAC Blue topped with the loaded Quakers and Okemos, I'm excited to see how it turns out.
NOTE: To avoid the damaging conversations that resulted the last time I posted about the East Lansing basketball situation, I did turn off the comments for this post. I hate to do something like that. But hopefully for the best of all involved, I did so this time.
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