Originally published - October 2012
By Sarah Ausdenmoore, Communications Dept. Intern, CISD
Dragon basketball fans, give a loud, fiery welcome to newbrhead coach Eric McDade, who has come to take over the house. The Denison nativebrplayed college basketball while earning his Bachelor's degree in Education frombrConcordia University in Austin. He and his wife, a principal in Mansfield, havebrtwo sons Bryson, 10, and Braylen, 7. McDade's household may be wild with thosebrtwo young sons running around, but McDade is still very excited for what thebrfuture holds for Dragon boys' basketball. He hopes that the passion andbrenthusiasm of the program will create a great time for fans as they come out tobrsupport Dragon basketball.
What brought you andbryour family to Southlake?
“From the outside looking in, y'all [Carroll Dragons] hadbrsuch great things going on here, and now that I'm here, I'm looking around andbrthere are so many great things going on. It's a great place for family.”
What is your coaching style?
“Fast. We like to play the game very fast, almost extreme. Ibrjust think the game was meant to be played in a fun, upbeat way. You have tobrget out there and you have to play, and enjoy what you're doing. Play with abrlot of enthusiasm, play with a lot of passion and a lot of energy.”
Who are some of thebrstrongest influences for you in coaching?
“My grandfather and different guys that have been around inbrmy life. They not only taught me how to coach basketball, but how to be a man,brhow to live, how to be a mentor and a role model. I thought I would replicatebrwhat I've been lucky enough to have.”
What was is likebrmeeting the Dragon players for the first time?
“Oh man, do I have to put that in words? You know, we'rebrthere in the same place, we just fit. They were excited, I was excited. They'rebrfired up.”
When fans see thebrDragons play this year, what will stand out?
“They're going to see that we're going to put it all on thebrline. We may make some mistakes, no one plays a perfect ball game, but we arebrgoing to play so fast and with so much energy. Whatever mistakes we make, webrare going to be able to make up for them. We're going to be a team that caresbrabout each other; we have coaches that care about kids. You're going to see abrcontagious energy, and hopefully we're going to come out and win some games.”
What is your firstbryear vision for the Dragon Boys' Basketball?
“When you come into a new place, you have to take care ofbrthe clients. We want to build those relationships with our kids right off thebrbat. We want to nurture the program, build the program and just keep it going.brThat first year you are going to come in and lay down the foundation. That nextbryear we are going to come in and put down the stuff that we believe in and gobrfrom there.
What was at the topbrof your to-do list when you took this position?
“We started with the high school kids first, taking care ofbrthem first. I came here in May and was working with them for a few weeks off andbron. Then we went down to the junior high and met those kids. That was cool, didbra camp, a father-son camp. We established an organization called SouthlakebrBasketball. It's all youth groups, grassroots to take care of the younger kids.brWe will have some things set in place that will last for a while to help feedbrthe program.”
Are you ready tobrproudly wear the green, black and white of Carroll ISD?
“Oh man, I'm ready! I am drinking the Kool-Aid, I am ready!brI am all over it, I am so into it, big time. I am a Dragon, I feel good!”
Dragon Fans, get ready to come out and support Coach McDadebrand the Dragon Boys' Basketball program, it's going to be a great season.
Pictured: Athletic Director Kevin Ozee welcomes new Head Basketball Coach Eric McDade to Carroll ISD
Sarah Ausdenmoore is a Carroll ISD Communications and Marketing Department summer intern and 2011 Texas Tech graduate. Sarah earned a degree in Electronic Media and Communications. She also graduated from Carroll in 2008.