By Don Wallace

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

The emphasis on defense will continue despite the change in Jacksonville Maidens head basketball coaches.

Veteran coach Tony Harris left a program he had built into a consistent playoff contender to return to Troup.

Jason Crow is now at the helm of the Maidens’ program and will also assume the duties Harris had as athletics director for all girls sports at Jacksonville High School.

“I hated to see Tony go; he is a quality person and a quality coach,” JHS athletics director Steve Wells said. “He will be hard to replace. Jason Crow will do an outstanding job, not just in basketball, but overseeing all girls’ sports. He wants to make us better in all phases and he’s committed to it. He is a good coach and he came in highly recommended. He not only has the support of the other coaches he has worked with, but the parents are very supportive.”

Crow, 34, graduated from Texas City High School in 1992, receiving his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in 1998. He is completing his master’s degree in December through Sam Houston State University.

Crow has made coaching stops at Lamar Consolidated, four years as junior high boys and girls coach; Fort Bend Dulles, two years, varsity boys basketball assistant; Rice Consolidated, one year, boys varsity basketball coach; Garrison High School, one year boys varsity basketball coach; Mildred High School, one year, girls varsity basketball coach; Wells High School, one year, girls varsity basketball, softball and cross country coach.

“Coach Harris laid a good foundation. There’s a good plan here to work from. I am excited to get started. He (Harris) had a good rapport with the players and the community. I want to continue that,” Crow said.

The new coach is also bolstered by information of a strong starting nucleus and interest in basketball by players and fans.

“I consider myself a player’s coach. I am not one to pull a player off the court after a mistake. I want to let the kids play and learn from the mistakes,” Crow said.

The Fightin’ Maidens tradition of a staunch, ball-hawking, pressing defense will continue, Crow said.

“I am big on defense. It all starts with a man-to-man defense. We will play defense for 32 solid minutes, and I am convinced that good defense will win some games. I’m not the kind of coach who carries players on the team just to do it. If you are on the team, I will try to use you during the game. We will need a rotation to keep people fresh. We have some athletes here and don’t want kids to just sit,” Crow said.

Crow said he still loves the game so much he takes to the hardwood court when he gets the chance.

“Basketball still excites me as much now as it ever did. I can talk about it for hours. I want to use a man-to-man defense, but go to zones out of that. We’ll use some zone looks, just to change the pace. We will also press, full- and half-court. Presses are hard, mentally and physically, but we will be ready. Running a press keeps you on your toes,” Crow said.

The Maidens have not had a high-scoring attack in recent years. Crow said he likes a well-balanced attack over one or two main scorers.

“I want to use all my people. I would like to get 10 girls averaging eight points a piece instead of one girl with 20 points. I am into the team concept,” Crow said. “You are playing for the school on the front, not your name on the back. Of course, our uniforms won’t have names on the back. We are all playing for Jacksonville.”

Crow continued, “It’s a we, not me, concept. We’ll use a motion offense to keep everyone involved.”

Crow said he did not know that much yet about the district. But he learned through some experiences at Wells that hard work can net some big rewards.

“We were in the softball district with Alto and Mount Enterprise. We still won 12 games,” Crow said. “Wells had not won in softball in 10 years. Our goal was to win six games, but we got 12 wins.”

Crow said he is interested in all Jacksonville athletic teams playing well and competing for a playoff berth or district title.

“I’m lucky being the girls’ athletic director because I have coached everything we play here, except soccer,” Crow said. “We can be competitive in every sport. Winning is contagious. I am not going to micromanage the other coaches. We want the kids to be pushed to the maximum of their potential. Hard work pays off; I am ready to get after it.”