“The Wolves’ new girls varsity basketball head coach, Greg Oldham, experienced a life-changing event in the past six months that led him to Coupeville. The demands of his career and the winning ways of his track record have given this teacher a lesson in what is most important for himself. The changes he’s made since will effect the girls basketball program and is likely to produce more success for the Wolves’ already-successful program. “I had a heart attack this summer so I couldn’t really jump into this with both feet the way that I wanted to,” said Oldham. “Coupeville was my first choice but I was offered the job and turned it down, not because of the coaching side, but because it was only a point six teaching position.”A .6 teaching position is a little more than part time. Oldham comes from Yakima, where he was a full-time teacher and girls basketball coach. “I interviewed some other places and I was offered a college job, I was offered a couple of 4A jobs and then after the heart attack, I realized that ‘moving up’ wasn’t what I wanted to do,” said Oldham. “I knew I was going to coach great kids, I knew I was coming to a great program, but those other places had that going for them too. But that point six teaching, a very supportive community in a beautiful place, that is what turned it for me.”The coach also teaches drama and English at Coupeville High School. He admits that he doesn’t think that he has changed very much in the wake of his heart attack. He will still expect high levels of performance from himself, students and athletes. “I expect us to play big-time basketball,” said Oldham. “When we play the bigger schools that are on our non-league schedule I expect us to compete with them and beat them, so that part hasn’t changed. I have just slowed down a little bit and I appreciate things a little more.”Oldham’s track record speaks for itself, as he has had great success in past few years.“I spent the last four years as the coach at White Swan High School, which is right in the middle of the Yakima Indian Nation,” said Oldham. “Over the last three years we had some success there. We made it to the state A tournament the last three years, won a district championship two years ago. Before that I was an assistant at Eisenhower, a 4A high school in Yakima.”Oldham, a Central Washington graduate, says that he moved to Coupeville over the summer with his wife. They were both anxious to get back to Western Washington and closer to family. Oldham says that growing up among strong women makes him perfect for coaching girls basketball. “I stay on the girls side of coaching because I want to help to develop new generations of strong women,” said Oldham. “What I want them to take away from this experience is that it is feminine to be strong physically, mentally, emotionally, and that they can stand up for themselves and accomplish things that they are willing to work for.”Oldham knows what kind of program he is taking over and has done his homework on the team and where they have come from.“I have a lot of respect for coach (Willie) Smith and what he did in his seven years here,” said Oldham. “That is one of the reasons I came here, so I wouldn’t have to build a program, I could take over from where he left off and build on that.” The changes for the Wolves will be felt immediately as Oldham plans on speeding up the tempo of the games for a more fast paced and quick style of play. The style should adapt well to the Wolves current roster as size is not necessarily in their favor.“I believe Pat Summit talks about, ‘Know what you teach and teach what you know,’ ” said Oldham. “And what I know is up tempo, full court pressure defence, kind of run and gun basketball.” Oldham knows that the transition from Smith to himself was not easy for the girls and he looks forward to the challenges of the season. He also knows that the comradery of a the team along with himself will come with time. “One thing that I really respect about them so far is they have adjusted to the change and have worked hard and been really positive about it,” said Oldham. “Change is scary and I think there was a little fear and trepidation at first, but as we have been able to spend a little time in the gym they have been able to see that I am not that much different than what they are used to. I think that the relationship will grow as the year goes on.”Oldham also knows that the change has been difficult for some parents, as he demands a lot from his athletes.“I know that once that they see me work with their daughters for a while they are going to see where my heart lies,” said Oldham. “My high expectations of how we play on the floor is just an extension of the character traits that I teach by doing this.” Oldham’s experience, though, is not just with big schools and winning programs. He has his share of failures, as most coaches do.“I was head coach at a tiny little B school called Thorp right outside of Ellensburg,” said Oldham. “We routinely got pounded by everyone we played.”The fast-paced style of offense and defense will take some time to make second-nature, but Oldham believes his team will make the transition. The Wolves’ future looks bright, too, with a great freshman class coming up, according to Oldham.“One thing is that in the freshman class we have some size, which traditionally Coupeville has never had,” said the coach. “Looking two three years down the road, I am excited about that.” “