New basketball Coach Loftus hired in Cashmere School District

Cashmere High School hired a new varsity girls basketball coach this past week. With much recent success, there are various unknowns and questions wanting to be answered. An interview with the coach was conducted in order to learn more about him as a person and a basketball coach.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from originally?

Coach Loftus: I grew up outside of Philadelphia with two brothers and a sister. We were always competitive with each other in basketball and were always finding pickup games or battling in the driveway. Both my brothers and I went on to play college basketball. After college I moved around a bit, teaching through AmeriCorps on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona and then went back east to teach in Philadelphia. I wanted to get back out west and moved to Idaho to work at a wilderness program where I met my wife. We got married and moved to New Mexico for her graduate school and then back to the Northwest when our first daughter was born. After my second daughter was born, we settled in Cashmere and have been here for about 12 years. Regardless of where I was, I always ended up coaching basketball. I had the opportunity to coach from 8th grade girls through men's NCAA basketball in that time.

What made you interested in coaching for Cashmere High School?

Coach Loftus: Before we had moved to town, I had started following the local high school teams and could see that there was a proud tradition of athletics in Cashmere. As a coach, this was a great opportunity to be a part of this community and atmosphere.

How long have you been coaching and what are your goals?

Coach Loftus: My first coaching position was 23 years ago on the Navajo Reservation and other than a couple of years in transition and a few years after my daughters were born, I have been involved at some level of coaching most of that time. My goal has always been to push players to reach their potential as individuals and as a team both in basketball and as people.

What do you feel is most important to teach the players during your time here?

Coach Loftus: I think it is important to teach players to do things the right way. That is taught on the basketball court but also translates to the players as they grow into individuals and members of the larger community. Doing things, the right way comes through hard work and a commitment to something greater than oneself.

Why will you create a new team dynamic and bring success to the school?

Coach Loftus: This team and program has had a lot of success, and this is something that we plan to continue. Our team dynamic is influenced by many factors, but at the core of it will be trusting in each other as both coaches and players. I believe this trust is built through a commitment to each other to make everyone around us the best version of themselves on the court and off the court. When a team reaches a point where they know their coaches and teammates are working for each other, then we will achieve success.