McAvoy brings knowledge, experience to SACS boys program

The Southern Aroostook Warriors boys varsity basketball program has a new coach, who has vast knowledge of the game.
Bill McAvoy is back on the sidelines. McAvoy has coached at Mars Hill and Katahdin and now will take the reins of the Warriors. He has been retired from the game for five years.
“It’s been a big change for me,” he said. “I thought the first year was good for me to get away from it all.”
However, after a few years went by, McAvoy’s wife, Sue, encouraged him to get back into coaching.
“She didn’t have to tell me twice, let’s put it that way,” he said laughing.
For the last three years, McAvoy has been looking at coaching openings that were handy to his home. This year, Schenck and Southern Aroostook both had vacancies.
“I applied for both,” he said. “But, what really swung me to Southern Aroostook was this past summer. I ran a basketball camp and I had a lot of Southern Aroostook kids show up to the camp. So, I got to know some of them.
“So far, I’ve had a great two weeks,” he added.
The Southern Aroostook Warriors finished last year with a 7-11 record for 18th place in the Class D Heal Point standings.
“They have a great work ethic,” said McAvoy of the Warriors. “But, I’m finding with these kids that the little things about the game, they don’t know how to do. Some of their shooting technique is not real good. So, we’ve been putting on clinics [to help the boys improve their skills]. They have natural athletic talent, but it’s the little things they don’t do well that make the difference between winning and losing.”
As McAvoy introduces his style of basketball, he has learned two things. One, he has to be patient. And, two, he can’t expect big things to happen overnight.
“I am more patient with the kids,” he said. “I know it is going to be a work in progress. I know it’s going to take time.”
The Warriors don’t possess size, as their tallest player is 6-1 and his four starters stand at 5-9, but McAvoy will have his team prepared to play their opponents.
“We will look to press and push the ball up the floor,” he said. “But, when we are in our half-court set, we have to be patient.”
As McAvoy ages, he sees the value of the game not always on the scoreboard.
“With my experience and knowledge, I hopefully can make these kids better ballplayers and hopefully, better people. I want them to not only learn the game of basketball, but life.”
Knowing the road will have some bumps, McAvoy is ready to move the Warriors forward.
“I am hoping by after Christmas, we will be a lot better team than we are now,” he said.