Spending more than seven years in the stands helped give Tim Fitzpatrick the itch to return to the sideline.
Fitzpatrick, who coached the Durango High School boys basketball team for 10 seasons, has made his return to coaching at DHS with the varsity girls basketball team.
“I kind of missed the teaching aspect of teaching basketball the way I think it should be played,” Fitzpatrick said during a scrimmage game Nov. 21. “This position sparked my interest, and my kids are a little bit older now, which is one reason I stepped away. Now they can come to the gym with me.”
Fitzpatrick replaced Nancy Smith, who resigned for family reasons after last season. Smith coached the Demons for three seasons after replacing Klint Chandler, and she took the team to the state tournament twice, losing in the first round in 2012 and the second round in 2013.
“I love the new coach. He’s way different than our previous coach,” senior guard Katie Wiegert said. “He’s a lot tougher and pushes us to be the best we can as a team and individuals.
“My goal for the team and myself is to stay strong together as one and keep a winning mentality. It’s not necessarily getting deeper in the playoffs as keeping a winning mentality and not getting down.”
Wiegert said the team is more focused on defense this season.
Fitzpatrick said his style is pressure defense – full- and half-court – with an offense that shares the ball.
“We’re looking to press and get out in transition,” he said. “Offensively, sharing the basketball, moving the basketball and playing what I believe is good team basketball. Pass first, shoot second.”
The Demons won their season-opening road game at Bloomfield, New Mexico, 53-32. Sophomore guard Katrina Chandler led the team in scoring with 20 points. Sophomore forward Stephanie Bayse added 12, and Wiegert scored nine points. DHS will open its home schedule at 7 p.m. Saturday against regional rival Bayfield.
Fitzpatrick called Chandler and Wiegert the leaders of the team as two of only three players who return this year with significant varsity experience. Senior guard Tessa Leader also has emerged into a role fitting of her last name. The coach also expects Bayse, junior guard Danica Dudley and sophomore forward Taylor Edwards to play significant minutes.
“The players will dictate how much they play with practice habits,” Fitzpatrick said.
Though the team is young and inexperienced, Chandler expects the team to elevate its play.
“Coach has been good for us. It’s a lot more intense, and it’s taking us to a new level,” said Chandler, daughter of former coach Klint Chandler and Rebecca Chandler. “We have some good leaders on the team, and it’s good for our underclassmen to have good leadership from the coaches and upperclassmen for when they become upperclassmen.”
Fitzpatrick and Wiegert both stressed the importance of team unity. Both are pleased with where the team stands in that department, and they hope the bond only grows throughout the season. Wiegert said that’s the key to winning.
“I’m encouraged as far as all of the girls, not just the varsity group. Numbers are up, and I feel really good,” Fitzpatrick said of the program. “Our main thing is working hard. We’re not going to do everything right right away. But if we’re working hard and playing together, that’s the most important thing. We will clean up the Xs and Os as the season goes, but if we’re working hard and playing together, as a coaching staff, we’ll be happy.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If You Go
Who: Bayfield at Durango
What: girls basketball
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Durango High School Gymnasium, 2390 Main Street
