By Will Boyce ’15 | Staff Writer

Reaching the next milestone in his lifelong basketball career, guidance counselor Troy Glasser has taken over the position of head coach of the boys varsity basketball team.

One of Glasser’s goals in his first year as head coach is to change the attitude toward the boys team around the school, primarily by winning games, he said.

Leading up to the season, the team played 25 games in the University of Michigan Dearborn Spring League, and went to a team camp at Northwood University in Midland to play in a summer tournament. Both of those events were firsts for the team and Glasser said he believes they were a great help to the boys’ preparation.

Glasser is working to make the games more electrifying this year, explaining that the fans should look forward to some dunks and alley ‘oops, he said.

“We’re going to try to make it exciting, exciting for the kids to play in and exciting for the kids who come and watch,” said Glasser.

For the fans enjoyment, Glasser said he plans on hosting activities like free throw contests at half time for the students to win prizes like Buffalo Wild Wings gift baskets, TCBY gift cards and more.

The boys basketball team is coming off of a disappointing season, winning only five games last year.

“We are planning to turn the program around,” said team captain Danny Dixon ‘14. “We want to instill a winning mentality that gives South basketball a good reputation for years to come.”

Despite disappointments in years past, there are high hopes for the team this year, Glasser said.

“I’d like to win a conference championship and make a long run in the tournament,” said Glasser. “I think we have some potential.”

Although winning is important, Glasser said equally as important in his program is developing the athlete as a person, and teaching them how to grow up and be a better person, employee, boss, leader, husband or father. One advantage of having a guidance counselor as a head coach is that the sport will be an extension of the classroom, he said.

Having been  his big brother’s shadow throughout early elementary school, Glasser began playing basketball in the fourth grade, in Sioux City, Iowa, he said. After being a star player in high school, he committed to play basketball at Mount Marty College. After a torn ACL his freshmen year, he transferred to the University of Nebraska to finish college.

Glasser began his coaching career in the Chicago Public Schools, where he began a program for eighth grade girls and boys, he said. Through this, he caught the attention of some strong high school programs after leading his teams to numerous final fours. He was hired as an assistant varsity coach at Madem Curie High School, which was part of the most acclaimed high school basketball division in the city of Chicago.

When Glasser came to Grosse Pointe, his first coaching job was at North, where he coached both the JV boys and JV girls teams. His next year he assisted the varsity girls team under Gary Bennett.

Upon transferring to South to be a guidance counselor, he became an assistant coach for the varsity boys.  Last year, he was  coach of the freshmen boys.

Glasser is excited to finally be heading the team, he hopes this year they will be reaching the potential he believes they have.

The boys basketball team has their first game tonight, at North.