PREVIEW United ready for title defense

A variety of coaching experience with girls and boys has helped Matt Ziegler to excel for the Golden Eagles.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HANOVERTON -- Matt Ziegler, who has coached girls and boys basketball on almost all levels, credits his experience for helping him to succeed in his first season at United High last year.
"The best thing was that for me, having been a coach at various levels, that I kind of know what the coaches go through throughout the season," said Ziegler, who guided the Golden Eagles to an 18-3 overall record and to the Tri-County League championship at 13-1, ahead of Leetonia.
"Having been involved in both boys and girls gave me a different perspective."
Ziegler formerly coached the United boys JVs for one year, the United freshman girls four years, the United junior high boys four years and the Columbiana boys JV one year.
"I know what is being done at the junior high level, [and] what I want done. I know exactly what [players] have learned and what their strengths and weaknesses are and what we should work on."
Players, Leek help
But Ziegler admits he had other help besides his experience to help him click in his first year.
"Last year, I walked into a very good situation. We had three seniors who had started since they were sophomores," said Ziegler.
And he capitalized on the experience of assistant coach Terry Leek, who also was in his first year at United after four years of coaching experience at Southern.
"I was fortunate to have Terry Leek. His experience helped. They really bought into our program," said Ziegler, whose other assistants are Teresa DiAntonio, second-year freshman coach; Jess Leon, first-year eighth grade coach; and Jen Waugh, second-year seventh grade coach.
Ziegler said he coaches the girls the same way he coached the boys, but with a different approach.
"The drills and the offense and the strategy are the same," he said. "With girls in general, you have to be a more positive reinforcement [because] they have a tendency to get down on themselves when they make mistakes, so you have to be positive.
"They are eager to learn."
Ziegler sees this year as a rebuilding one.
"We lost five of the top seven players. We have only two starters back. But we had an 18-2 JV team," said Ziegler, who is rebuilding around holdovers Michelle Foster and Sara Hotchkiss and eight newcomers.
The Golden Eagles got off to a good season start last Saturday with a 63-49 win over Malvern. Three players led the way -- Hotchkiss (22 points and 13 rebounds), Foster (17 points and eight steals) and Krista Reeder (17 points). The successful opener gave Ziegler and United hope for another banner year.
United's next game is Tuesday at home against East Canton.