Alvis Rogers ready to take over Gateway boys basketball program

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 11:06 PM

It was well known Alvis Rogers likely was going to be named the new coach of the Gateway boys basketball program before Thursday's school board meeting.

Gateway's administration, led by athletic director Randy Rovesti, recommended Rogers to be voted in to replace Daryn Freedman, who resigned in early March after four seasons.

Rogers, an assistant with the Gators under Freedman, said the official approval by the board was special and left him humbled.

“Being there for four years, I know the school, the players and the administration,” Rogers said. “The players know me and know what I am all about. Talking with the few of the players and parents, the excitement is there. We want to get out there, get our feet wet and see what we have to build on.”

He said he's ready to implement an offseason program, finalize his coaching staff and do a number of the other things necessary over the next couple of months as he prepares for his first season as head coach.

“The feeling is not any different for me,” Rogers said. “I coached the JVs, and Daryn gave me the flexibility to do things as an assistant. There now will be more responsibility, but I am ready for that. I am pretty excited.”

Rogers isn't the only Freedman assistant to earn a head coaching position at the high school level.

Two weeks ago, Nick Dizon was hired as head coach of the Kiski Area girls.

Freedman, who stepped down from the Gators to pursue a return to college coaching, helped the Gators compile a 51-41 overall record and earn a WPIAL playoff trip each season.

Rogers' coaching resume before coming to Gateway includes several seasons as an assistant women's coach at the NCAA Division I level. He served on staffs at Duquesne, Pitt and Youngstown State.

He also worked with the YSU men's program as director of basketball operations.

Rogers also coached the Seton LaSalle boys in 2004.

His collegiate coaching career began as an assistant at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., for the 1993-94 season.

A native of Washington, N.C., Rogers played in the ACC at Wake Forest in the late 1970s to early 1980s. He averaged double figures in points (12.6) and added 5.8 rebounds a game.

Rogers was a sixth-round draft pick of the Kansas City (now Sacramento) Kings in 1983. He also played professionally in Australia, Sweden, Greece and Belgium.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.