KC's Hoberecht vows fast-paced action
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
By MITCH LUCAS sports@kilgorenewsherald.com

Photo by Lester Murray NEW MAN ON CAMPUS - Kilgore College has hired Brian Hoberecht (above) to take over as head men's basketball coach, replacing Scott Schumacher in that position. Hoberecht met with members of the local media and others on Wednesday morning at the Devall Student Center, and promised that Rangers fans will see a fast-paced, exciting brand of basketball this fall.

New Kilgore College head men's basketball coach Brian Hoberecht smiled as he was greeted by well-wishers Wednesday morning at the Devall Student Center on the KC campus, a session scheduled by the college to introduce the new coach to the media and faculty members.

When he stepped to the podium, though, the joking stopped - it was time to talk basketball.

"It is an honor to be here," said Hoberecht (pronounced 'Ho- BRITE'), to a good crowd of interested parties. He thanked both current athletic director David Castles and soon-to-be athletic director Jimmy Rieves for their role in bringing him to Kilgore, and then quickly got down to the business of basketball.

"There are three things I want for this program," the coach said. "First, I want to recruit good people and students., and for them to get a degree. Second, I want to improve as people, students and basketball players. Third, I want to win championships. And that is important."

Hoberecht comes to KC from Dodge City Community College in Kansas, where he had a 100 percent graduation rate among his student athletes. His record as head coach at DCCC was 156-95, and in 11 seasons there, his teams made the postseason in seven. He was head coach at DCCC for eight years (since 2000).

Castles spoke briefly, as well. The AD, who will retire in August and then be replaced by Rieves, said the search to replace 13-year former head coach Scott Schumacher was an extensive one, with plenty of interest, including one international query.

"We believe Brian is a great fit for us," Castles said, "and we hope it will be a great fit for him, as well."

In addition to members of the faculty, KC President Dr. Bill Holda was in attendance at the press conference, as was Manny Almanza, who announces Kilgore College athletic contests for radio and internet broadcasts.

The relocation portion of Hoberecht's new position is just under way. He told those assembled on Wednesday that he had been offered and accepted the job on Thursday, and was in Kilgore in the early portion of the week. He is currently staying at Rieves' home, and joked that Rieves is likely ready for him to find living quarters.

Hoberecht is divorced, but has three children who will join him here once he does find a home.

The program has several freshmen following a 15-15 season in 2007-08, and at least one of them may have elected to transfer. Hoberecht said he had met with several freshmen, many of whom were interested in returning for their sophomore seasons, but then confirmed that Ridge McKeither, a freshman from Danville, Va., who was the Rangers' leading scorer last year, was not one of them. He said McKeither had left campus in March, and that he had not spoken with him.

McKeither scored 17.3 points per game and averaged almost 10 rebounds per game for the Rangers last season.

The coach said that Will Kellner, an assistant under Schumacher, had joined Schumacher at his new position as head coach of North Dakota State College of Science, but that Schumacher's longtime assistant, Kendrick Franklin, was still here, and that he had been in several conversations with Franklin about him staying on. "We're trying to get to know each other," Hoberecht said. "If it's a good fit, I'd like for (Kendick) to stay on."

As far as the Region XIV Conference, Hoberecht said he didn't have an intimate knowledge of it. "I'm not going to say that it's any better than the (Jayhawk Conference) where I've been coaching," he said, "but I'm not going to say that the Kansas conference is any better than this one, either. There are some very, very good players in this league, and good coaches as well."

Hoberecht said he likes for his teams to be able to run the floor and play a fast-break type of basketball, something that is exciting for the fans.