MAC BASKETBALL Brink, Salem ready to play

The successful former Springfield coach now takes over the Quakers' program.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- All coach Jeff Brink did at Springfield High was win games. His boys basketball teams dominated the Inter-County League, where they won four straight titles and 45 consecutive games under his direction.
Salem hasn't won much at all in the last decade and is starving for success on the court.
Brink and Salem introduced themselves to each other this year, and a partnership began. All that's needed now is time and patience, and a shot of positive energy.
Maybe there's some irony to the way Brink, a fiery and disciplined coach, ended his five-year coaching career at Springfield. He led the Tigers to their first district championship in 34 years last season -- on the Quakers' home court.
That's where he'll spend most of his time now as the replacement for George Spack.
Practicing patience
"We have to be patient and look at it as a learning curve. It's a process where we have to get better each week," said Brink, who moved with his wife, Brenda, from New Middletown to Salem. "The kids are passionate about it; they want to succeed, and they definitely want to get this turned around."
The Quakers, who went 4-17 last season, including a 1-9 record in the Metro Athletic Conference, have a foundation in place -- four returning starters in seniors Joe Smith, Zac Grey, Landon Heath and T.J. Decrow.
Grey, a second-team MAC selection, averaged around 15 points per game, while the 6-foot-6 Smith was the leading rebounder.
"There is a sense of pride and the seniors have a sense of urgency that they don't want to wait four or five years for the program to develop," Brink said.
After those four players, however, the remainder of the team is young and inexperienced.
"Our sophomore class is very athletic," Brink said. "It's a matter of teaching them. Every coach puts a priority on something. Our kids have to understand what we, as coaches, feel is important."
Support staff
Supporting Brink and his effort to change the face of Salem boys basketball are assistants Will Klucinec (Canfield's all-time leading scorer), Dan Dankovich (former Springfield assistant), Jeff Andres (former Salem standout) and Todd Huda.
Brink also has the backing of Doug Phillips, Salem's football coach who also came from Springfield.
"It's a huge benefit when you can work with the other coaching staffs," Brink said. "He [Phillips] helped get some players out. He encouraged players to play. At a lot of schools, coaches pull guys the other way."
When Brink took over at Springfield, he had the luxury of knowing the players, having been the junior varsity coach for two years. At Salem, he doesn't have that benefit, and instead must start from scratch.
"We almost have to go back to page one," he said. "We have to go back to the basic skills, and at this point those skills aren't habit."
Rebuilding a program also involves more than what happens on the court. It involves a change of attitude.
"We have to teach the kids how to win," Brink said. "Sometimes that's harder than fundamental skills."
Don't expect Brink's Salem teams to resemble those he had at Springfield. The coach plans to match his current style to the personnel available.
"The main goal is to get them fundamentally sound to execute in the halfcourt offense and defensively where we can put pressure on the ball," Brink said. "We're also putting an emphasis on rebounding."
Brink is one of two new coaches in the MAC, the other being John Corey at Struthers. Brink knows the new conference schedule, which includes two games against Poland, offers little margin for error.
"Every night there's a powerhouse on the schedule," he said. "There's no games you can look at and say that it's an automatic win."
richesson@vindy.com