By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
On June 3, Superintendent John Antonucci and Athletic Director Nick Schlierf announced Tyler Strange as the newest head coach and program director for North Attleborough High School boys varsity basketball team.
“Tyler is an accomplished coach and athlete who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise,” said Schlierf in an emailed statement. “He has consistently demonstrated his coaching skills by cultivating winning teams, and we look forward to him bringing that energy to our basketball program.”
The vacancy comes as Derek Smith—former head coach of the boys varsity basketball team and president of North Attleborough Youth Basketball—faces allegations of misuse of funds by NAYB’s board of directors. He was removed from his position as president of NAYB and his coaching post.
Strange comes to North Attleborough with extensive experience in the world of basketball, both as a coach and player. He attended Gardner-Webb University, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I school, where he was a three-time captain who became the school’s record-holder for steals and assists.
After college, Strange went on to play professionally for the National Basketball League in China and for professional teams in Montenegro and Germany.
Strange has also coached at the collegiate level, first as men’s associate head coach at Montreat College in North Carolina, where he helped lead the team to two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournaments.
Before making the decision to return to Massachusetts and focus his efforts on the younger generation of basketball players, Strange also coached at Wofford College, another NCAA Division I school in South Carolina.
“For me, it was giving back my knowledge to the kids, but also creating the best experience possible to enjoy their high school careers; that’s what really led me back to coaching at the high school levels,” said Strange. “It becomes addicting. You love it and you’re so excited for practice and to see the development and growth of the team and the joy in the kids’ eyes.”
According to Strange, running his own basketball program where he could positively impact and shape young players was always on his mind while playing overseas and coaching at the collegiate level. The Mass Huskies boys basketball program was born out of that dream, an AAU club of 150 athletes that Strange is the director of as his full-time job.
Players from third grade up through the varsity level in the central and north shore areas of Massachusetts can join the program, and Strange has helped over 20 athletes go on to play basketball at the collegiate level.
“Our program is more focused on just giving kids an opportunity to develop their skills and give them a place to play,” said Strange. “We have some teams at the high school level that are getting college recruits, but we kind of have everything at every level. It’s just something that I always wanted to do to give back to the communities that I grew up in, but at the same time run my own business.”
Currently residing in Hopkinton with his wife and 8-month-old daughter, Strange served most recently as the head coach of the Littleton High School boys varsity basketball team. During his time there, he helped the team reach its highest state ranking in the school’s history by leading them to two Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournaments.
Strange heard about the job opening at NAHS from a player he coached on the Huskies team, and felt it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“It’s been great so far, the support has been second to none. I’m just super excited for the opportunity,” said Strange.
The Monday after Thanksgiving is the first day of tryouts for boys varsity basketball, and in the meantime, Strange is focused on giving his players as many opportunities as possible over the summer to get into the gym and improve their skills, all while getting to know the players who will be trying out in the fall.
“I can promise you we’re gonna play hard, we’re gonna play fast. It will be a challenge; I know the league is very good,” said Strange. “It’s gonna be something new, but it will be an exciting change.”