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you’re going to lose a bunch of good seniors every year but you have to replace them with juniors, sophomores and freshmen.”

During the 2021-22 season, the Panthers prided themselves on being a stout defensive team that forced errors and then capitalized on those extra possessions on the other end. According to Staley, he still wants the team to remain solid defensively, but also wants to push the pace ouensively.

“I’m going to mold and adjust my style to the players I have, but I want to play an up-tempo style game that is exciting and fun to watch,” Staley said. “We’re going to be a very good defensive team, we’re going to communicate – you’ll hear us in the gym. We’re going to run the fastbreak and put up points, but we’re also going to be really tough defensively.”

According to Staley, Ellsworth’s basketball team has promising young athletes that will be a good fit for the style of basketball that he wants to play. Those athletes, many of whom are football players and played on a championship- caliber team last season, get Staley excited for what his team might be capable of this season.

“I think running the fastbreak and playing great defense will be our identity just by knowing the guys that I’ve worked with this summer,” Staley said. “We have the chance to be a really, really tough defensive team that is miserable to play against. Hopefully, that’s what we will be.”

While full X’s and O’s will come later when his players report for practice this fall, Staley is already working behind the scenes and is excited to be the next head coach of the Ellsworth boys basketball program.

“I’m honored to be the next head coach and I’m really excited for the future and the process,” Staley said. “We’ve got a great group of kids, a great community, a great administration and I’m excited to get going.”