Head coach: Mark Starnes (1st year)
2019-20 record: 5-25
Mark Starnes has been a fixture in basketball in Kentucky for decades but after several years at Union County as an assistant, Starnes said he felt a need for a change.
Insert Apollo.
“I got comfortable being at Union County and sometimes you get that itch to go back into it and honestly, the good Lord said it’s time to move on. I’ve got other plans for you,” Starnes said. “He made the way for me here, put me in a leadership position, which I’m thankful for being dean of students and the head boys basketball coach.”
Starnes said when he applied for the head coaching job, it wasn’t his first time trying to lead the Eagles.
“I’ve been in this area for 11 years,” he said. “Actually when I left Fleming County, I really pursued this job about six years ago. I interviewed for it on a Sunday and that’s when they decided, and rightfully so, they gave it to coach (Steve) Barker … The good Lord then said the timing wasn’t right. His plan works out and I’m a firm believer in that.”
Starnes now heads up a team that finished 5-25 last season as only Cloverport had fewer wins than AHS in the 3rd Region but the new coach is ready to insert a different type of hoops at Apollo.
When he was hired, Starnes said he was going to bring an exciting form of basketball where teams keep the tempo up throughout the game.
He said his new team has been receptive so far.
“They have bought in, at least when we’re in practice,” he said. “They seem to enjoy it and like it. We’re getting ourselves ready, it is a demanding type of basketball because you do have to be in shape to play that but I am smart enough to know as well, they’ll be times people will fight you fo tempo, times we’ll have to adapt to that as well.”
When asked how Covid has bothered his team this season, Starnes didn’t mention him leading a new program in the middle of a pandemic but more about the mental health of his players.
“It’s the stop, start, stop, start. The uncertainty,” he said. “If I was a teenager, I’d be looking for my parents, what’s going on, I need somebody to please tell me what’s going on. I would certainly be uncertain about things at their age level and they need guidance, they need direction. Parents showing them the right way to survive and to act during this unprecedented time and they need to look to leadership, people doing the right things, acting the right way, being role models for them.”
Apollo graduated its top two scorers from a year ago as senior Harrison Bowman is the top returner with his 8.1 ppg. Dan St. Claire also brings scoring and was the Eagles’ leading rebounder last season.
Starnes said they have several young standouts on the rosters but it’ll be the seniors that keep the team going this season.
Apollo starts the season Monday at Union County as the Eagles’ first home game is Jan. 7 against 1st Region foe Murray.
Starnes said they still have to sharpen things up.
“It’s like I tell the guys every day, it’s repetition, it’s muscle memory. We’ve got to rely on our training that we have done and we just keep on going over the stuff,” he said. “Repetition is key to success. It’s no secret, every coach is probably doing it.”
When it comes to success this season, Starnes said it’s about getting the scheme down and getting in ready for future Eagles teams.
“To learn and to grow,” he said was key this season. “There’ll be some bumps along the way. There’ll be growing pains along the way. We’ve got some young guys, we’ve got some freshmen practicing here with the varsity to give them some reps … To implement the system and get them accustomed to what we’re doing.”
