Greg Haagsma moved to Arizona and began his coaching and teaching career at Valley Christian High School in 1991. He was the girls varsity coach for six years winning three 2A region titles and led his '92-'93 team to a final four appearance. His record while at the helm of the girls program was a stellar 106-41.

Greg also coached baseball at VCHS from 1992 to 2003.

In 1996 Coach Haagsma took over the VCHS boy's basketball program and completed his 15th year as head varsity coach last winter. During this stretch his teams have gone 360-103 while winning four state titles (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007).

Greg teaches Accounting and Personal Finance at VCHS along with being the new athletic director taking over for Marlin Broek who was the school's only AD from 1982 to 2012.

Married for 24 years, Greg and his wife have three children. His oldest son will play varsity basketball this year as a 6-foot-3 junior guard. His daughter will be a freshman in high school and his youngest son enters the 5th grade.

ArizonaVarsity: Where did you attend high school and college - tell us about your playing career?

Coach Haagsma: I grew up in Pella, Iowa and attended Pella Christian High School. Pella is a very strong sports community and it was a lot of fun growing up in central Iowa playing high school sports. There were lots of fans at every sporting event and the local papers wrote huge stories about the games.

I played high school basketball and baseball. Truth be told - I was a much better baseball player than I was a basketball player. We had good teams in both sports. As a senior, we lost to the state champion in basketball in sub-state. I was a starter on the basketball team and actually had my best game of the year in our final loss versus state champion Washington High School.

In baseball, we lost to Dyersville in the state finals. I was a pitcher in high school - rated near the top in the state with a 13-0 record as a senior and a sub 2.00 ERA. A lot of my success had to go to my teammates as we had a great team. The pitching record was inflated for my actual ability. I went on to play college baseball at Dordt College in northwest Iowa. Dordt was a NAIA school. I played for 4 years and then was a grad assistant for my fifth year as I finished up my degree.

AV: How did you get into coaching?

Coach Haagsma: I actually didn't start thinking about teaching until my third year in college. Teaching became an option because I really wanted to be a coach. I had been doing some assisting at basketball camps for some of the small colleges in northwest Iowa during the summers.

After I graduated, I looked for a teaching job that could offer the best combination of coaching and teaching. That happened to be Valley Christian. At that time, it was located in Tempe. I moved here from Iowa in 1991 and have been at Valley Christian ever since.

I started as the head girls basketball coach and head baseball coach. I was girls head coach for six years making the semi-finals in 2A once. In 1997, our athletic director and current head boys' basketball coach decided to give up coaching boys' basketball. That is when I made the switch to boys' basketball and have been the head coach ever since. I retired from coaching baseball in 2002. It was too tough to do both sports, especially since they were back-to-back. I needed to be able to spend more time at home with my wife and three children as well as focus my time on one sport.

AV: How do you manage your time during the season with respect toward your teaching/coaching duties and your social/family life?

Coach Haagsma: It is not easy at all. You have to prioritize what is most important. I am very passionate about my basketball coaching, but I try to prioritize my life. God, family, school, and basketball is what I always teach my players and therefore, I believe that is the way I should live as well.

I sit down and do a lot of calendar planning with my wife so I can do the things that have to be done in regards to VC basketball. I have a great wife who is very understanding about my passion towards being a successful basketball coach. She takes on a lot more responsibilities during basketball season to make things work for our family. My kids have grown up in the gym and enjoy being there as well, so they come to a lot of events with me when they can.

AV: What position do you hold on your school's campus other than your coaching job?

Coach Haagsma: I have always been a full-time business and computer teacher at VC along with the department chair for the Applied Arts Department. However, this year I am assuming the athletic director position instead of full time teaching. As an AD in a small school, I will still teach a couple of periods a day, then have the rest of the day to be AD. I will also continue to be the department head for our Applied Arts Department.

AV: Who are your coaching idols?

Coach Haagsma: I take a lot of my coaching from some very interesting places. First, my dad was a music teacher at Pella Christian High School. I learned so much about becoming excellent through hard work from him. He spent a lot of personal time helping kids become better musicians. I remember fighting with my sisters who would get to bring dad his dinner at night - because he was working with students at school from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at least 3-4 nights a week. He developed one of the most successful music programs in the state of Iowa and was a respected choir director in the state. I will never forget his dedication to the students.

Second, my high school coach was a great motivator and paid a lot of attention to detail. He never let up in practice. The effort we were required to give was always 100%. I learned a lot from him.

As far as coaching idols, I don't know that I have any others. I really enjoy going to coaching clinics. I go to at least one big clinic every year. I really enjoy listening to Tom Izzo, Rick Majerus, Bob Knight, John Calipari, and a lot of the new young coaches. I have spent multiple days at practices for Indiana and Texas Tech - when Knight was coaching and also at Memphis when Calipari was coaching. I think that is the best way to learn as a coach - to get to see someone coach for multiple practices and days in a row.

AV: What are some of the personal rewards you've gained from coaching?

Coach Haagsma: One thing I think I learned from my dad as a teacher was being able to step back and see how you helped a student/athlete get from point A (beginning) to point B (graduation). I really enjoy seeing how the athletes have matured and improved over the years.

I take a lot of pride in our program - freshman through varsity. We work very hard to develop kids. We get some good basketball players at VCHS, but we also have developed a lot of very average athletes into good basketball players to help us develop successful teams here at VC.

One of the other rewards of coaching for so long is seeing former players go on to be successful in life. I have a lot of former players that are now coaches. I also enjoy seeing them being good husbands, fathers, employees and employers as well.

AV: How could AZ high school basketball be improved?

Coach Haagsma: That is a loaded question. This state has many challenges because of its diversity in so many ways.

(1) AZ is a very large state geographically, but the population is located in really two main areas. This leads to an issue with rural and metro schools.

(2) We don't have the number of total schools that most other states have. We have very large schools in Phoenix, but as a whole the number of schools is less than most states, so our conferences are smaller.

(3) We also have financial issues to deal with, combined with the travel needed for a large state - we have some major problems with scheduling.

Because we are so different, it's hard to compare us with any other state. The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) has a tough job because I just don't think they can use another state's model and apply it to us. We are just too different.

However, we need to do a better job of promoting high school ball. One way to do this is by having all championships in one location on one day. Girls one day or one week, and boys the next.

AV: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing AZ high school basketball?

Coach Haagsma: There are a couple of issues that bother me.

(1) Being from a small private school, I think one of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to deal with the metropolitan versus rural issues. I think that a lot of times, these issues get played into private school versus public school, but in my opinion it is a rural versus metro issue.

(2) I think that we don't realize the basketball talent around the country here in AZ. I hear so much about kids being able to go play collegiately. We have individuals here in this state who make a lot of money telling kids what they want to hear. That is wrong. We need to be more realistic with our basketball athletes. The D3 and NAIA routes are all good things and quite frankly, often lead to a more enjoyable collegiate experience.

I have travelled the club circuit and have seen the ball on the east coast, southeast, and Midwest. We don't see the vast number of 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-7 shooters in AZ that are in other parts of the country. We need a major refocusing of how to encourage our athletes for future success. I know that this is part of the culture across the country, but it seems to be the worst here in basketball.

We would improve our high school scheduling if we could figure out how to not overlap all sports so much. I think some of our better multi-sport athletes could do two sports if there wasn't so much overlap.

AV: How do you feel the AIA is doing in their administration of the sport of basketball?

Coach Haagsma: Like I said earlier, I think it is a really tough job. This will be my first year as an AD. I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot more about the process over the next few years.

I've been on the basketball advisory committee for the past couple of years and so I've seen some of the issues we have from an administrative point of view.

The AIA needs to do a better job of getting input from schools and coaches with their decisions. I think that sometimes decisions are being made without enough though. However, it is not that easy. School administrators, AD's, and coaches are often not in agreement with how things should be run. Who then should the AIA listen to? The AIA will tell us that "we are the AIA." There are so many opinions our there because of our diversity as I talked about before. Another problem is the apathy towards communication to and from the AIA. When asked for input, the number of coaches who respond is usually under 35%. That is not good enough.

AV: Who are the top three high school coaches in AZ?

Coach Haagsma: It would be easy for me to name the same big names from our successful schools in the state and they are all great coaches. I just haven't had a lot of contact with many of them, or coached against them a lot.

#1 Rick McConnell - Dobson. I have played against Coach McConnell a few times. I respect the teaching he has done within his program. His kids play with a lot of discipline. I also respect how he always has treated me as a coach from a much smaller school with less talented teams than his. He is a great coach, but he is a much better person.

#2 Todd Fazio - Desert Mountain. Anytime I've seen him coach, I come away very, very impressed with the structure his teams play with. He also is a very humble man and always puts the success on his players, when in reality, his structure, disciplined system, and how he treats kids is a big reason he is successful.

There are also three small school coaches who I respect greatly.

#1 Chris Cook - Thatcher. He has had some really good basketball players over the years and came into a good system put together by Coach Kenny Smith before him. However, each year, his kids know the Thatcher system so very well. You can talk to almost any coach who plays them and they will tell you that they know every Thatcher set by name, but still can't stop them, because the kids run them so well.

#2 Chris Riehemann - Benson. Chris is a great coach. He does not always have the most talent, but he gets more out of his kids than anyone I know. He gets very hard-nosed, hard-working kids at Benson. Those kids will run through brick walls for him. His structure, discipline and demeanor around them is very impressive to watch.

#3 Bob Fredericks - Scottsdale Christian Academy. Bob has gotten a bad wrap that he just wins with talent. However, his teams are always very disciplined and well-coached. His coaches scout opponents as hard or harder than anyone I know. He is very difficult to play against, especially a second or third time in one year.

AV: Who's the best player you ever coached?

Coach Haagsma: I have had two great big men who played for me. I would have loved to see those two go head-to-head. Tim Kruge (1999-2003). Shane Johannsen (2003-2007). Tim played for Point Loma Nazarene and was an NAIA All-American. Shane played for Northern Arizona University for four years. Both were part of two state championship teams at Valley Christian High School.

AV: If you could pick any AZ high school to coach at (other than your current school), who would it be?

Coach Haagsma: I have been at VC so long that I don't know who that would be. My first two choices to coach somewhere else would be my high school and college alma maters - Pella Christian and Dordt College. However, I don't know if I could handle the cold weather in Iowa anymore.

AV: What was your biggest mistake made in coaching? (game or player management)

2004 State Championship Game - We were definitely out-sized, out-manned, and not nearly as athletic as Scottsdale Christian Academy that year. We were big underdogs in that game. However, I had a very smart team and some really good guards who could shoot. They also prepared for that game better than any team I have ever had. We played a tremendous championship game by spreading SCA out with all that size. I think we actually built a 9-point-lead at one point in the third period. However, I think I over-coached the second half and we got too patient which lead to "trying not to lose" instead of "trying to win." We ended up getting beat by 4. It's the toughest loss I've ever had.

AV: If you couldn't coach basketball anymore, yet could coach another sport, what would it be?

Coach Haagsma: I love baseball for its strategy. However, I think I'm more addicted to golf now.

AV: What should the role of parents be during their child's high school years?

Coach Haagsma: To be an encourager to their child…..To lift them up and be supportive in whatever the kid wants to try…..To help them understand the dedication it takes to achieve goals….To root for the team….To understand that this is their kid's experience, and not make it their own.

AV: What are your policies for dealing with overbearing or meddling parents?

Coach Haagsma: I have a team handbook which clearly identifies my team rules, policies, and guidelines. I also list what parents can expect from coaches and what coaches should expect from parents and players. I will go back to the handbook as a start for any problems that arise. I also don't meet with any parents/players on game days if possible and I don't talk with parents until a player has discussed problems with me first.

AV: How do you balance playing time so that the entire roster feels included?

Coach Haagsma: We try to play a fast style that allows us to play more players. However, I regularly talk to all players about roles and make sure each one understands how he helps us be successful on a regular basis.

AV: Would you describe yourself as an offensive-minded coach, defensive-minded, or a little of both?

Coach Haagsma: Probably a little of both, but more offensive-minded.

AV: How have you been impacted by open enrollment and/or transfers?

Coach Haagsma: As a private school, we have had a couple of transfer athletes over the years. I haven't had any that immediately made us a contender when we were not before. However, the current rules are very restrictive to the private schools. Transfers basically cannot play at private schools for the first year. It really is a non-factor for me at this point.

AV: How do you balance listening to/implementing suggestions from your assistants to ensure that they feel their opinions are valued?

Coach Haagsma: I give my assistants a lot of leeway. Probably more than most coaches do. We really have a lot of the same ideas. I've been blessed to have the same assistants for many years now. However, I'm the one who will get to deal with the parents and the administration, so my decision will be final.

AV: What elements do you focus on when giving your team a scouting report on their opponent?

Coach Haagsma: We try to focus on player tendencies, team tendencies, special sets that they want to run a few times a game, and presses, traps, etc.

We also look to try to take away at least one of their leading options to score. If we can eliminate one, it makes our life easier.

However, we focus a lot on trying to do better and not making so many changes because of who we are playing.

AV: What approach do you take in "cutting" kids who didn't "pan-out" as anticipated, i.e., a junior (with potential) who played JV but as a senior would not get any playing time on your varsity team?

Coach Haagsma: Tough decisions. Again the type of player and personality of the kid makes a big difference in whether I keep them or not. I've had some very good players who meant a lot to our teams who didn't play all that much. However, keeping kids around just for loyalty reasons often leads to problems which all coaches regret later.

AV: Generally speaking, what do you like to get accomplished during the summer season?

Coach Haagsma: Summer is an extended tryout period for me to see who we have, player combinations on the floor, and to begin to start to implement any new stuff for the following year. We do not practice as much as most schools do as we have so many kids who play multiple sports. However, I tell our players that I can't make teams in a three-day tryout at the beginning of the year. Tryouts start at the beginning of summer and extend through until the official three-day tryout is done.

AV: Do you see any emerging trends in the high school game?

Coach Haagsma: Fewer good shooters, more athleticism, much stronger kids and a much more physical game with fewer fouls being called. A foul ten years ago is just regular play now.

AV: How do you feel about club ball programs?

Coach Haagsma: I'm not big on club basketball. Club basketball is to promote the individual where I see basketball as a team sport. Clubs play too many games as well. This has changed the importance of winning every game for a lot of kids. There isn't the disappointment for losing as I once remembered it. They just begin to focus on the next game immediately. I'm not sure that is the attitude we want them to have.

There are some very good club coaches out there. There are also some who are not. Unfortunately, the schools who are getting the players in are generally the ones who have club ties. It is quite interesting when you hear of kids transferring, or kids choosing schools out of district, and it often has something to do with club basketball at some point. The loyalty to high schools and community is gone and that is unfortunate, but it is not going to come back. It is now about "what can you do for me?"