Coach Mihalich:  I began my coaching career as an assistant coach for Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, VA. My boss was Joe Wootten, who has been there for more than 20 years and helped so many students to play college basketball. The level of competition in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference ranks among the country's elite as far as high school basketball goes, so that really rooted my love for high school hoops, and aiming for the highest level possible.

Before coming to Avon Old Farms, I most recently coached basketball at the University of Hartford where I gained invaluable experience. My grandfather wrote the book, Sports and Athletics: Philosophy in Action, in which he said athletics provide a platform for pure expression of the human spirit, as well as the pursuit of excellence. That philosophy guided me at Hartford, and I formed relationships with great people from all over the world. Prior to Hartford, I worked at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. I taught Academic Support and Mentoring, assisting students throughout their coursework in English, history, and math. There, I was mentored by people who believed that true coaches – at their core–are teachers. These principles – be a teacher first, express spirit, and pursue excellence–form my approach to working with high school boys, both in the classroom and outside of it.

Coach Mihalich:  This league is a destination; players from all over the country (and beyond) know they will find elite competition in the NEPSAC. We go toe-to-toe with teams who attract students who want to win and go on to play at the next level. That's how we operate as well, so our schedule is quite the gauntlet.

Coach Mihalich: My two daily goals are:

a) to teach 
b) to simplify

A lot goes into such a simple game, so I try to give players something simple to be good at. As long as I can keep it simple, players can bring all the enthusiasm and energy they can.

Coach Mihalich: A great team has balance. Each player must balance his personal goals with the team goals. They must think for themselves while trusting the coaches. There must be friendship among the group, but still very competitive with one another. As long as the members of the team find the right mix of each aspect, that has the makings of a winning team.

Coach Mihalich: Playing high school basketball teaches humility, hard work, and most of all, brotherhood that extends into your future. You can make lifelong friendships if you're doing it right.