Williams named new Elliot Christian boys coach
Phil Williams was ready to take a break from coaching basketball this year.
But then a new coaching challenge soared into his life, and he’s accepted the new spot.
Earlier this week, Williams was officially named the new Elliot Christian High boys basketball coach. He takes over for Jason Hitt, who moved on after serving as the Eagles’ coach and the school’s athletic director for the last four years. Hitt now teaches physical educational classes at Bear Creek High.
In his four years at Elliot, Hitt compiled an overall record of 95-28 that included two Central California Athletic Alliance titles and deep runs in the Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF Nor Cal playoffs. Last winter’s team posted a 22-7 record, taking second place in the CCAA and advanced into the second round of the section’s Division V playoffs.
“I do think he’ll be a great addition to the coaching team as well as an inspiration to the boys,” said new Elliot Christian Athletic Director Angela Juelch, who is also the school’s new volleyball head coach.
Last year, Williams worked as a volunteer assistant coach for the California State University, Maritime men’s basketball team. Prior, he was an assistant coach for the Brookside Christian High boys basketball team for two seasons. He was also the junior varsity girls basketball coach at Sobrato High in Morgan Hill.
Before and during those coaching stints, Williams coached AAU basketball teams, mostly boys’ squads. His most recent stint was with the Saints Basketball Club in Tracy. He was going to step away from coaching AAU basketball after the end of this summer.
“I’ve been coaching for over 20 years,” Williams said. “I decided that being on the road, traveling, is no longer it for me.”
Then Williams heard of the Elliot opening late last spring.
“I had a couple of conversations with (Elliot Principal Mark) Stewart at the end of the school year, when the opening became available,” Williams said.
Next Tuesday, Elliot will start its 2018-19 school year. Williams plans to meet with returning players and newcomers in preparing for fall workouts in preparation for the winter season. He also plans to decide what type of offense and defense to run.
“We’re are still evaluating our kids,” Williams said. “We to put them in a system that fits our personnel. We may play a fundamentally based offense. Play some man-to-man de-
fense.”
Williams notes that Elliot will be going through changes. The Eagles’ top two scorers from last season in guard Nate Bond, who ironically, is going to CSU Maritime, and forward Cody Doell, have graduated. The duo were part of the 201617 team that won the CCAA and section’s D-V titles, and played in the CIF Nor Cal D-V title game.
Eight of Elliot’s 11 players on last winter’s squad are expected to return this upcoming winter season; five seniors and three sophomores.
“Elliot is going through a transition period,” Williams said. “Until we have our first official tryout (on Oct. 29) who knows how players are going to impact. We hope to have a fraction of (recent teams’) success.” Williams plans to keep the Eagles’ schedule mostly intact for the upcoming season. He said Elliot will continue to play in the McDonald’s Classic at Edison High. The Eagles are on the wait list to compete at the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoops Classic, and is looking into playing in the annual Cordova Christmas Classic and the Lincoln Tournament. New edition to the schedule, Williams said, is playing Galt in a non-league game.
“We definitely want to keep a competitive schedule,” Williams said. “Our goal is to play competitive games, and keep the tradition that Elliot has built in the last several years.”