Jevon Green is hired as Patriots’ boys hoops coach

June 30, 2009

By Bob Taylor

Jevon Green enjoys studying history, especially Roman. In fact, it seems his entire family likes history. On a quiet summer morning, you might just catch all of them viewing a program on the History Channel.As Liberty High School’s new head boys basketball coach, Green hopes to create some positive history by leading the Patriots to a successful campaign in the 2009-10 season.

While the Patriots’ boys basketball past hasn’t exactly been the Dark Ages, the program’s history has been devoid of success. Liberty has just two winning seasons in the record books — 1988 (12-10) and 1980 (11-9).

The Patriots, who have reached the KingCo Conference tournament a few times, have never been to the state tournament.

Last season, Liberty was 4-8 in the 3A KingCo and 7-13 overall under former coach Chris Bilanko, who resigned in April to become head coach at Seattle’s Bishop Blanchet.

Bilanko was Liberty’s head coach for five seasons and had a 26-73 overall record. He had succeeded Jon Kinsley in 2004. Kinsley had a 29-98 mark.

Green, the ninth boys basketball coach in Liberty’s history, said he is aware of the program’s past. While Liberty has often lacked height and talent to compete with KingCo’s upper class, the Patriots seldom have lacked hustle and heart. Green said he believes Liberty is ready to make a move upward.

After watching Liberty players this spring in camps, open gym shootouts, and on film, he said he believes the program has talent. He doesn’t only watch the History Channel.

“There is some talent at the school. A lot of kids are two- and three-sport athletes,” Green said. “I believe we do have the players to compete with Mercer Island, Bellevue and Mount Si in KingCo. Our goal is to be among the upper teams in KingCo.”

Green, a former two-time all-state player for Seattle’s Nathan Hale, has a major goal for the team.

“One of my main goals is I want each player to get better individually. If they get better individually, we will get better as a team,” he said.

Liberty basketball could have a different look on the court. Green said he plans to implement some strategies he’s seen work as a player and assistant coach. He wants the Patriots to become an up-tempo team on offense and a better defensive team.

“We have to be a better defensive team to succeed,” he said. “We will pressure the ball, create turnovers and that will lead to getting baskets on offense. Our players will have to be in shape.”

Some of his strategies come from playing in the Metro League, and from Franklin, which has won state titles at both the 3A and 4A levels.

“Franklin has won with no size, but it plays that pressure defense. They just pressure teams all over the court,” he said.

Before coming to Liberty, Green was an assistant coach at Seattle’s Cleveland last season, and a former assistant at Lakes in Lakewood.

The 32-year-old has experience as a college player at Idaho and West Virginia State universities. He also was a player-coach on a European League team in Serbia, and on a minor league team in North Dakota.

A knee injury ended his playing career, but opened the door for coaching, something he has often thought about in the past.

In high school, Green played football, basketball and baseball. He was talented enough in football as a wide receiver that he was recruited by college teams. He earned all-Metro League honors in football.

However, basketball was his first love and his favorite sport. Green led the state in scoring as a junior (28.8 points per game) and senior (31.7). In 1994, he helped lead Nathan Hale to the Class 3A state tournament and had quite an amazing finale.

He hit a tournament-record, nine 3-point field goals, and finished with 46 points, tying a career high, against Metro rival O’Dea in the Tacoma Dome. However, O’Dea, behind the 48 points of Ryan Williams, won the wild contest 89-87.

“It was the last game for a lot of players. Everybody played. It was a lot of fun,” Green said.

It was also the last time Nathan Hale has been to the state tournament.

John Burnley, Green’s coach at Nathan Hale, and JoJo Rodriguez, who he assisted at Lakes, are among Green’s role models as coaches. Rodriguez was also a successful coach at Garfield. Both relied on pressure defense.

While Liberty will be a pressure team, Green has not lost one other element for the program.

“I want basketball to be fun for the players. If it’s not fun, they shouldn’t do it,” he said.

He is enthusiastic about Liberty’s future. That enthusiasm impressed Liberty’s selection committee.

“Jevon’s basketball experience and knowledge are extensive,” Liberty athletic director Stark Porter said. “We’re excited what he can do for our program.”

Sports are fun for Green’s whole family. His wife Raynette, a former college player, is like another coach.

“She also knows me better than anyone in my life,” Green said.

His daughter, Deaujrae, who will be a freshman at Kennedy High in the fall, is a talented soccer player. She plays for a select team that requires the family to travel across the country.

The Greens have three other children – Dominic, 12, Jalen, 9, and Jevonne, 6.

“All are athletes,” Green said proudly. “We get out and see them in all their games.”

And the family also supports Green when he’s coaching. They will be in the stands next winter for Liberty basketball games.

That is, unless they’re home watching the History Channel.

Reach Sports Editor Bob Taylor at 392-6434, ext. 236, or bobtaylor@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.

By Bob Taylor

As Liberty High School’s new head boys basketball coach, Green hopes to create some positive history by leading the Patriots to a successful campaign in the 2009-10 season.