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Nolan Cubellis takes charge of Girard basketball
By JON MOFFETT
Girard
Nolan Cubellis admitted he didn’t contribute a lot of scoring as a shooting guard at Girard High.
“I was more of a defensive specialist when I played,” Cubellis said. “I didn’t do a whole lot in the scoring department. But I defended the other team’s best guard.”
But Cubellis hopes to score some major points as the newest head coach for the boys basketball team at the school. The current 8th-grade teacher is ready to continue his legacy with the program.
“I’m very excited for this opportunity,” Cubellis said. “I graduated from Girard, played at Girard, coached at Girard and teach at Girard. I’m very excited to be there because I’m proud to be from there and I want the best for the kids that are there now.”
Cubellis graduated from Girard in 1999. He has fond memories of his time on the hardwood for the Indians. He said his main goal is to help his players attain the same.
“When I was a junior, we lost in the district championship to a Liberty team that had three great players,” he said. “And as a senior, we were an average team, but I tried to be a leader as best I could be. I tried to keep the team motivated.”
Cubellis has also spent a decade on the sideline. He coached the junior varsity team at Girard for seven years, and spent another three as a varsity assistant.
The middle and high schools will merge this fall, Cubellis said. That gives him a distinct advantage as a liaison of sorts for the students. It also doesn’t hurt for possible recruiting.
“I think most kids feel comfortable in my classroom and can approach me,” he said. “I want them to be comfortable so that anyone interested in basketball will come out.”
He also has an advantage from teaching the students prior to their freshman year. He said he can better understand how they think and learn. That type of information can be beneficial on the court, he said.
“The kids will respect you a little bit more because they know your position and that you’re a coach,” he said. “They’ll respect you more in the classroom, too, because you’ve built the relationship with them. As a teacher, it gives me a bit of an advantage because I know them and I’ve already built a relationship with them.”
Cubellis hopes to mold the team after himself: a strong defensive presence and an opportunistic offense.
“Offensively, we’re going to try to pick up the tempo a little bit,” he said. “If the first shot you see is good, try and take it. Defensively, I want to take pride in stopping people.”
But more importantly, Cubellis said he wants tough players.
“We’re going to be hard-nosed team, tough and never give up,” he said. “These kids are going to do whatever is asked of them. It doesn’t matter if the score is up or down, these guys are just going to stick it out and hustle.”
He added, “I’m really looking for guys that are tough. When the other team gets done, they’re going to know they played against Girard.”