I remember having some visions if coach Jim Manzo ever stepped down that thinking that it could be Joel Schroeder, a neighbor to Manzo possibly being his successor during the Lake Orion/Pontiac Notre Dame Prep game that night.
I remember seeing Schroeder scouting Pontiac Notre Dame Prep as
his Pontiac Phoenix whom were having a successful season themselves getting an
idea what he and his team would expect once they met in districts. I saw my brother Anthony talking to
Schroeder and budding in on the conversation during halftime. I remember that conversation
really well and wishing him luck heading into the postseason.
A few weeks later, Pontiac was district champions and was in
the Division Two Regional Final against New Haven and star player Romeo Weems.
I remember the conversation after the 39-32 district final
loss to Oxford when Manzo pulled aside Anthony and myself that he would be
stepping down as head coach in the coaches office. I remember Anthony breaking
down in tears when the decision was made on that March night while I was numb
trying to process all of it.
I did not know what to expect next, remembering what
happened to the program when Manzo left the first time back in 2008 when the
program went downhill. Lake Orion had three different coaches from 2009-2015
but it was under then coach Tom Risi when the Dragons went to the State
Quarterfinals even though they finished that season at 11-9 in 2012.
When Lake Orion Athletic Director Chris Bell made the
decision to name Schroeder as the team’s next Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
last Friday. I had some thoughts about the move when writing the blog for
Inside the OAA.
I looked at the positives, Schroeder is a neighbor to Manzo
and lives in Lake Orion, not to mention his track record at Pontiac including
what he did last season was very special.
Then I looked at the questions particularly Schroeder and
the players. Thinking if both sides can build the trust in each other and be on
the same page. Both Schroeder and the players should have plenty to prove. I
wonder to myself if there is a chip on their shoulder on both sides.
With Schroeder is can his system work in the Red??? He has
never been in the Red which has me very concerned knowing that Clarkston, North Farmington, and Oak
Park have a lot of experience coming back, not to mention Ferndale comes
up from the Blue with their three transfers that will be eligible along with another talented player whom had a big freshman year this upcoming season and that’s not
mentioning Bloomfield Hills or West Bloomfield. Also I wonder how Schroeder
will do with the program, not just the Varsity but the Freshman and Junior
Varsity levels, not to mention the Middle School programs at Scripps, Oakview,
and Waldon. Another question I have is will Schroeder be at Lake Orion in the
long term???
With the players it’s can they buy into Schroeder’s system???
I expect Schroeder’s system to be a little different than Manzo’s with this
current group. It will be an interesting transition to see how the players respond to Schroeder’s system and if they buy in.
Manzo left the program with talent far from bare. The
Dragons lose Nate Talbot, Kyle Loken, Hunter Sites, Shane Barkeley, and Jake Rydquist to
graduation but they have Drew Van Heck, Cameron Sutton, Isiah Harris, Dylan
Boedigheimer, and Jack Cummins returning and that’s not to mention a Junior
Varsity team that has some talent to work with as well.
I went back into that night having a gut feeling that if
Manzo would have stepped down feeling that Schroeder would be the guy to coach
the Lake Orion Dragons Boys Basketball program.
I was right.
