Taylor Thiel was hired in the late Spring to be the GHS boys basketball coach. In the blink of an eye, he was running the Summer program for the Streaks. In Illinois, June is a crucial month for high school basketball. June is when high school teams have practices and games.
While the Summer season is important for the growth of the players, it is also significant time for the high school coach. Coaches get the opportunity to see how players respond in competitive situations, as well as how they respond to coaching. So the month of June was a great opportunity for Coach Thiel to learn about this team. I was able to ask Taylor some questions about how Streaks basketball went this summer.
Massey- Everything had to be a whirlwind for you in June. You ran camps, organized varsity practices, and played games. What was your approach to things this Summer? What did you learn about the varsity team after watching them?
Coach Thiel- I had to approach this Summer a little different than I normally would since I really didn't know what to expect, but I was really surprised by the players. There is more athleticism and talent then I was expecting and they really showed up and worked hard to get better. The progress we made in a short amount of time was very encouraging and I am excited to continue the process with them.
Massey- You have several strong young players in the program. As you got to watch them this summer, what are your hopes for them this coming year? Do you anticipate they will be ready to play a major role for you?
Coach Thiel- Having the underclass talent is encouraging, but I also do not want to put them in situations where they are not ready, not just physically but also mentally. I do see major contributions from the underclassmen happening this season, but I'm more interested in making sure they are developing at the right pace.
Massey- You seem to have a senior dominated roster. What has impressed you about them?
Coach Thiel- We have 8 Seniors. They have stepped up on the leadership. They are a great group of smart guys and I can see that they want to work hard and be successful. I have been talking to them about this being their final year and how they want to leave their mark on the program. They have an opportunity to be the class that can change the trajectory of the program and they have the pieces in place to make that happen.
Massey- You got to play a lot of games. Obviously the Summer is not about winning games but about growing as a team by playing good competition. Did you perform in certain games that it really made you excited about what was possible?
Coach Thiel- We had an up and down Summer, but that was okay as we were learning and making adjustments and installing new concepts. We made some great strides and competed against some of the areas best. We were fortunate to be able to play against some of our WB6 rivals such as Rock Island and UTHS in our Summer League and I feel we gained some confidence and proved to ourselves that we can compete. I had several coaches approach me and express that they liked our team and commented on how they felt we had improved significantly. We will take the compliment, but we are not satisfied and know we will have to continue to put in the work. The exciting part is that our guys are willing to do just that.
Massey- After spending June with the team, what is the game plan for next winter. Offensively and defensively do you have some particular schemes in mind? What do you hope people will see from your team next winter?
Coach Thiel- I don't want to give away our game plan but I will say that we have several players that can play multiple positions, so people will see several different lineups depending on the match ups. Having that flexibility will allow us to push the tempo of the game with a high energy defensive focus to create turnovers which will lead to more offensive possessions and opportunities to score. We have a solid rotation of 8 or 9 guys right now, so I am expecting contributions from many players and anyone could lead us on any given night.
Massey- Summer is not just about X/O’s and basketball skills, it is also about trying to build culture. As far as culture, what are some of the things that you tried to do this Summer?
Coach Thiel- Being a Silver Streak means something. Wearing the jersey is a privilege. Putting selfish agendas aside and working together as a team to achieve a common goal is a rewarding experience. We brought in ex-players to tell their story on what it meant to them to play at GHS. All of our coaches all played for GHS. It matters to us and we want the players to understand that Galesburg is a special place to be able to play and that they will forever be in the Silver Streak fraternity.
Massey- I thought it was great that you were able to get Coach Mike Miller to come back for some of the practices and go to your games at DeKalb. In the coachign fraternity, Mike is one of the most respected coaches in Illinois. His knowledge of X/O’s is unmatched. What advice did he have for you? Are you planning to use any of Miller’s schemes, sets, etc?
Coach Thiel- Obviously Coach Miller had a huge impact on me and my teammates during our time playing for him during our State Run in 1998. Having him come down and run a practice for us was truly a highlight of the Summer. Watching his energy and how he explained the "why" in what we were teaching was inspiring. I was in learning mode when he was here and I was blown away by some of the little details you dont even think about that he was able to articulate and demonstrate. With the flexibilty of our current team's lineup, I had him install some of the same offensive schemes that we ran when I played for him. He gave us Coaches some great advice on communicating a certain way with our players and gave us an honest review of what he saw with our team. We were then able to spend the rest of the day with him off the court and just catching up and reminiscing on our "glory days". It continued when he showed up to the DeKalb shootout and his feedback was welcomed and appreciated. I'm fortunate to have an open line of communication with him and I am sure I will lean on him for guidance from time to time.
Massey- Are there any changes in the schedule for next winter?
Coach Thiel- The schedule was pretty much set when I arrived to town. I know we are participating in the DeKalb Christmas tournament this year instead of the Taylorville tournament as in the most recent seasons. Also, we will be participating in a shootout event at Carl Sandburg. We did pick up a new opponent in Rockford Jefferson as we will not be playing Dixon this season. Also, picked up Kewanee and Normal West. We are front loaded with a lot of home games, so hopefully we can build some momentum early.
Massey- I know some of the players will be in Fall sports, but what are your plans for the rest of the summer and next fall?
Coach Thiel- We will continue to hold open gyms 3-4 days a week throughout the remainder of the summer and into the fall and will complete our weight training program that is set up in phases based on what part of the year/season we are in. We are also exploring some fall league options to ensure we are getting some competitive games in. Our Fall athletes will focus on their respective fall sports, but we will continue to work and move the program forward.
Massey- Is it fun?
Coach Thiel- I'm still pinching myself to make sure that this is real. Being able to coach at GHS and give back to the community that gave so much to me is really a special thing. Being able to coach my Son in Thiel Gym makes it even more special. Getting to know the players and building new relationships and friendships is fun. Reconnecting with everyone in the community and feeling the excitement is amazing.
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