Manzo in running to be Dragons Boys Basketball Coach Could be a Game Changer.

Written Thursday May 14th, at 1:30 AM

When Jim Manzo left the Lake Orion boys basketball program in 2008 after being upset by Waterford Mott at Clarkston in the pre districts nobody knew where the program was heading. The team has had it's ups and downs since Manzo left. The ups being the 2012 state quarterfinal trip under former coach Tom Risi and the downs was last season's 4-17 season along with five of the seven losses were to Clarkston under Risi, Lance Davis, and Mike Shafkalis.

Manzo put his name back on the list on Wednesday to possibly be the next Dragons coach.

Oddly enough it was Manzo that was the last coach to beat Clarkston, in 2007. The Dragons haven't beaten the Wolves since then.

Manzo is a 1988 graduate of Lake Orion and played basketball at the school, works in the school district as a math teacher and has had success coaching on the varsity level winning two division titles in 2005 and 2006. He has had success at Waldon Middle School coaching both the football and boys basketball teams to undefeated seasons in 2014.

Why it's a Game Changer:

Manzo brings varsity experience (previously coached at Lake Orion,)  he was a former player, most of the players know him real well. Manzo knows the alumni well, and he knows the game.

Thoughts:

Whomever the new coach is will return a boatload of talent along with a solid junior varsity team from a year ago and will be one of the favorites in the Blue this upcoming winter. Manzo was one of the names I mentioned in the blog and also on my podcast OAA Now. I think it's a two horse race for the head job at Orion between Manzo and current JV coach Steve DeHart. I think both men will do real well and it wouldn't surprise me if they coach together this upcoming winter, DeHart's son Andrew played for Manzo at Waldon on the undefeated team but that decision will be up to Orion Athletic Director Bill Reiss.

We'll see what happens, stay tuned to OAA Now for coverage.