WPIAL Coaches Corner – Adrian Batts

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, February 20, 2017 | 7:28 PM

In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts.

This week highlights Jeannette boys basketball coach Adrian Batts. This is his 8^th season coaching for the Jayhawks. After losing in the 2015 WPIAL championship, and in the 2016 WPIAL semifinals, Coach Batts has his squad primed for a 2017 run in 2-A. Let’s take a look inside Coach Batts’ corner:
 

1. Who was your favorite sports player growing up and why?

Isaiah Thomas, he played with no fear.

2. What was your dream job when you were young?  

I always wanted to be a principal.

3. What is your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas because of family. I enjoy the gift of giving.

4. What TV show is your favorite right now?

Scandal and Chicago P.D.

5. What are some of your hobbies in the offseason? 

I like to travel and my off season is sports with my daughter who’s playing softball and soccer.

6. If you could take only 3 things to a deserted island, what would they be?

My phone, survival kit, the Bible, so I can read and pray to help get me off the island.

7. What is the most important thing you try to preach to your players every year?

Teamwork, being unselfish and playing hard together.

8. What was it like to coach your son Julian, and see him finish as Jeannette’s second leading scorer all time behind Terrelle Pryor?

He had a chance to witness how hard Terrelle worked on his craft and understood how hard he had to work to attain his goals. It was great, because I got the opportunity to be a part of his dreams and goals as a basketball coach and dad.  

9. What is your proudest moment as a high school basketball coach?

Wow, that’s hard. The opportunity to coach the young men and my sons Jordan & Julian at Jeannette.

10. How do you keep a positive attitude and atmosphere for your players after falling in the WPIAL championship game two years ago?

I always tell them that we are so proud of them, and as long as you played your best that’s all we as coaches, fans and the Jeannette community can ask for.

11. What was your most embarrassing moment as a high school basketball coach?

There is a picture of me in the Trib from our semifinal win that Coach Hall (Jeannette football coach) sends to our friends that’s funny and embarrassing.

12. What are your thoughts on the WPIAL classification expansion?

It’s ok for us, because it put us and GCC back in the same section. It remains to be seen how the playoffs will be.

13. How did you decide you wanted to coach basketball?

I always was point guard and enjoyed the leadership role on the floor. I played for some very good coaches in college who instilled a lot in me with how to prepare, work hard every day to be your best. So I knew that someday I wanted to be in that leadership role.

14. Your team is expected to yet again be one of the top teams in 2-A. What do you think this team needs to do to win a WPIAL championship?

We have to continue to play hard for “32” minutes and defend a high level, rebound the ball together consistently, take quality shots by sharing the ball and win at the foul line.

15. How important has your family been throughout your coaching career?

They’ve been everything to me. My wife (Gina) has been my assistant coach since I’ve started coaching. Always picking me up when things aren’t going well. My sisters, brothers, nephew, nieces, sister in law, and brother in law have supported me through my coaching tenure. The opportunity to coach my sons has been one the greatest opportunities in my life and I’m so thankful for it.

Tags: Jeannette