Jonah Woodward will make his head coaching debut as the new head coach of Clarksville Boys Basketball for the 2024-2025 season when practices begin on Monday.
Woodward takes over the Clarksville program with six years (2018-2024) of coaching experience as an assistant coach with Waterloo West Boys Basketball under former head coach Clifford Berinobis and working with other assistants on the team.
Woodward on his new position and coaching role model.
“This is an amazing opportunity to be a part of such a great community, a great school system with educational and athletic opportunities. The Clarksville community has been very welcoming and it’s just been a blessing and a privilege being here so far,” says Woodward. “I was an assistant coach at Waterloo West High under Clifford Berinobis. He is an amazing man and an amazing coach. I got to learn a lot from him. He had a phenomenal staff that is still family for me to this day, that I rely on for a lot of guidance, personally and professionally. Because of Coach B, as we call him, I’ve turned into a better man and was able to become a head coach at Clarksville because of him. I’m very thankful and appreciative to him for that.”
The Indians return production with senior Sam Hoodjer, as the second leading scorer with 14 points per game at 40 percent from the field and a team leading 116 rebounds and 62 assists last season. Senior John Stauffer was the team’s third leading scorer at 9.1 points per game at 36.4 percent from the field, and pulled down the second most rebounds on the team with 105. Junior Dawson Barnett also returns as an experienced presence in the post with 71 rebounds last season.
Woodward on core concepts for Indians basketball this season.
“Our overall talent, no matter what level you’re at, you need some baseline level of talent to be successful. Our togetherness on and off the court, and our trust. Our half-court man-to-man defense. I love playing man-to-man defense, we’re gonna really focus on that this year a lot. We’re gonna focus on our offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding. Strenuously, we’re gonna have a huge priority to be one of the best rebounding teams in the state. We’re gonna work on our offensive spacing and just relocation, teaching kids how to play basketball and not plays. Then our toughness is going to be a big theme this year, being mentally and physically tougher every single day.”
Clarksville went 4-17 last season. Their season opener will be at Janesville on Tuesday, December 3rd
