Linsey Bailey has taken over as the girls' basketball coach at Deer Valley, after former coach Mark Hurtado switched over to take the helm of the boys’ program.
Bailey, who is also a physical education teacher at Antioch Middle School, served as the coach of the Alhambra High School boys’ basketball team last season. He led the program to its first playoff berth in 10 years, and the Bulldogs’ win over Tamalpais in the first round was the first post-season victory for the team in 12 years.
Bailey also brings a wealth of experience in girls’ basketball with him to the Wolverines’ program. Prior to moving to California, he was a girls' coach in South Carolina for four seasons, at C.E. Murray and Cross high schools, and also spent three seasons guiding Potomac High School and Northwestern High School in Maryland. In addition, he has previously worked as a camp coach for the University of North Carolina, serving under the second-winningest coach in NCAA women’s basketball, Sylvia Hatchell.
After experiencing success in his first year at Alhambra, the self-described “born and bred” South Carolina native found the local opportunity at Deer Valley too good to pass up.
“This is one of only a few jobs I would have left coaching boys’ basketball for,” said Bailey. “The quality of athletes here is tremendous.”
Bailey plans on bringing a high-scoring, high-pressure system to the Wolverines, after his Alhambra team averaged 78 points per game last year, and his girls’ team at Potomac averaged 70 points per game.
“We’re going to play fast, and get up and down the court,” said Bailey. “We want to make our opponents go deep into their bench, and we will be utilizing our own depth there as well.”
Spectators at Deer Valley games this winter can plan on seeing both full-court and half-court pressure defense from a coach who describes himself as preferring an “old school, man-to-man” type of defense.
“The team did well adjusting to our scheme in limited summer action,” said Bailey. “We’re very excited to see what we can do this coming season.”
