Brian Shock Named PV Boys Basketball Coach

It's official: former Aztec girls coach Brian Shock will take over the reins at Piedra Vista.

It took nearly two months to find a replacement after the controversial firing of Rick Hoerner, but PV principal Ann Gattis announced the hiring today.

Shock stressed that he'll miss the girls he's coached at Aztec but that he'll enjoy the opportunity to coach boys again.

I talked to Gattis about her expectations for Shock, a point of contention among some in the community including Hoerner, who said he was told that he didn't win enough games.

Asked point-blank, Gattis said, "To develop his players to their fullest potential."

*****

Here are some more quotes about Shock's hiring. Check tomorrow's Daily Times for the full story.

Gattis on the factors that went into PV's decision:

"We are committed to excellence in education above everything else. Once you do that, everything else falls into place. We want to be the best there is as a school and develop our young people to the best of their ability. ... I think he's going to be a great addition to us. We have a wonderful faculty and I think he's going to fit right in. We're pleased to have him and look forward to what he's able to accomplish. ... We look(ed) at all aspects. We want to make sure we have the best person in every regard."

FHS coach Kevin Holman, who led the Scorpions to the District 1-4A title and played Los Alamos competitively in the first round of the state tournament, gave me a colorful statement regarding Shock's hiring as well.

Holman on Shock's hiring:

"I'm happy for Brian. It's a catch-22 for me because Rick (Hoerner) is a very good friend of mine. I was a little disappointed in the administration over there at PV for getting rid of him, but I think Brian's going to do a great job. He did an outstanding job for Aztec's girls the last couple years. He's going to bring a new enthusiasm to PV. He's got his work cut out for him because they lost a lot of scoring from this year's squad. He's going to have to rebuild a little bit. I know he'll work hard at it. It's good to have him back on the boys' side of the district.

"I wish him the best of luck 24 games a year. I root for the Panthers except when they're playing the Scorpions. He'll bring enthusiam. He's going to work hard. He's a tireless worker. He's always thinking about basketball."

Shock on the competition level on the boys side of District 1-4A:

"Every year we say it's an even closer race than last year. It's always going to be a tight race with the district teams. Farmington, they've been the perennial powerhouse of late. I've watched the Aztec guys and they've got a lot of returners. It's going to be fun, I'm excited for it."

Shock on his message to his former girls players at Aztec:

"I told them, 'Coaches come and go and they're going to have somebody fill my shoes. Ultimately it's the players who decide the game.'"

*****
Your thoughts on Shock's hiring? How do you think the Panthers will fare within District 1-4A over the next few years?

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher