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New coach building Monroe girls program ‘the right way’

Doan often visits junior high courts; added on to youth program

Monroe High School girls basketball coach Krista Doan (left) instructs player Noel Thompson on a proper pass during practice Friday afternoon, Nov. 20. This will be Doan's first season as head coach for the Hornets. Contributed photo by Jessica Uttinger

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By John Boyle, Staff Writer Updated 8:03 AM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

When Krista Doan laced up her gym shoes for the final time as a basketball player, she said she had a feeling it wouldn’t be her last time on the hardwood.

Doan said she always believed her affinity for the game would result in a career as a teacher/coach.

Now in her fifth season as a coach, Doan, 28, will kick off her first season as a head coach Tuesday, Dec. 1, when Monroe visits Kings.

“I have always loved the game of basketball,” Doan said “I knew when I was done playing college ball it was not my time to throw in the towel. I love teaching the game and impacting girls on and off the court.”

On the court, Doan said she believes in an aggressive yet controlled style of play, with an emphasis on a stingy, man-to-man defense. She said she wants her team to be known for its defense.

“These girls are used to playing zone defense, and I don’t teach zone until they have a solid man-to-man down,” Doan said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but ... I want our defense to dictate — ‘You’re not cutting here, you’re not going to do this.’ It’s a mentality. You want to take pride in the fact you just made them chuck up a shot they wouldn’t normally take.”

While she’s working with the varsity and junior varsity teams on a daily basis, Doan also is looking to the future of the program. She added kindergarten through second-grade teams to the Hornets’ youth program — the Lady Swarm — to get girls introduced to the game’s basic skills and to better prepare them for competitive play, which starts at the third-grade level. Doan also checks in with the junior high teams a couple of times per week after varsity practice, she said.

“She’s very passionate about her job and the program,” Monroe Athletic Director Dave Bauer said. “From kindergarten on up, she’s building this the right way and trying to get a traditional power going.”

Doan, a 2000 Talawanda High graduate, played collegiately at Judson University and Miami Hamilton after a successful prep career for the Braves. She was an assistant coach at Talawanda (one season), Fairfield (two seasons) and Middletown (one season) before taking over at Monroe. Doan also coaches for the Cincinnati Hardwood Heat AAU program.

“I’ve always worked everything at the other places I’ve coached, but never realized how much behind the scenes stuff there was (being a head coach),” Doan said. “I’m just trying to get everything going for the first time. It keeps me busy, but it will pay off.”