News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Entering his second season as head boys basketball coach, Will Putnam said he is looking to change the culture of Monterey basketball.
The Wildcats went 3-30 last season, finishing in last place in the region. Putnam said the team is leaving that season in the past and noted that this summer has been encouraging.
“I feel very confident that we are heading in the right direction,” Putnam said. “The year ended so much better than it began last year and that’s something I feel very confident in. I’ve loved the summer we had. I love the way this team, coming back this second year, is really, not policing, but they’re the ones that are observing the culture of our program now.”
Putnam said he tells his players all the time that if he is the only one being a leader, the team is in trouble. He said his junior and senior leaders have stepped up and noted that every practice session comes with a level of intensity that was not present last season.
“We believe that the more connected we are, the stronger the culture we have, and higher the work ethic we have, we’ll find success,” Putnam said. “We don’t know always when it will come, but we’re going to find success and be proud of what we do.”
As a former middle school coach in Monterey, Putnam is getting to reconnect with some of his former players. He said besides building a culture around basketball, he wants his program to be about forming well developed young men.
With their tallest player being 6’1″ on a good day, Putnam said the Wildcats will have to use their undersized lineup and outrun teams. He said
“They don’t always like playing players that are smaller than them,” Putnam said. “If you can get them to play 94 feet, be uncomfortable and swarm to the ball and defend as a unit, then you can make a team that maybe has better athletes than you or maybe has more size than you, you can make their night very difficult.”
Wildcats start their season November 19 at Wartburg Central.
