Mchenry Makes Economic Move -- Tahoma Gets Teacher, Girls Basketball Coach

Calvin McHenry built Hazen High School into a winner in girls basketball. Now he'll try to do the same thing at Tahoma.

McHenry, 32, said he made the coaching change this summer for economic reasons. Hazen didn't have a teaching position for him. Tahoma did.

"It was totally an economic situation," he said. "That's the sole reason I made the move."

McHenry coached two seasons at Hazen and took the Highlanders to their first state tournament last season, where they went 1-2. He succeeds Helen Shaw, the long-time Tahoma volleyball and girls basketball coach. Shaw resigned the basketball post in June, but will continue as head volleyball coach.

The new girls basketball coach at Hazen is Allyson Gubbs of Texas.

McHenry only recently received his teaching certificate. He was a classified staff member at Hazen the past two years and also was an assistant coach in football and softball. He instituted a fast-break offense in basketball that netted the Highlanders a second-place finish in the Seamount League and a SeaKing District championship.

With nine of 12 players back from that team, McHenry was anticipating another successful season at Hazen.

"I really felt this would have been my best year," he said.

Tahoma, on the other hand, lost four starters from a team that finished 4-16. McHenry admitted he "wasn't too excited" about making the move, at first.

"But I'm excited now," he said. "I'm excited about the kids. I had a chance to coach them a little this summer. They're not at the skill level with the Hazen kids, but I think there's some potential there. How long it will take to develop, I don't know. But they have the No. 1 thing you need to be successful in high school, girls basketball especially, and that's they're willing to work hard. So, I'm looking forward to that."

Terry Cavendar, Tahoma athletic director, is looking forward to having McHenry on board.

"We're real pleased to get somebody with the the experience, expertise and dedication like Calvin," he said.

Rick Stubrud, Hazen assistant principal, said McHenry will be missed but that Gubbs is a quality replacement.

"She's got a real strong playing and coaching background," he said.

Gubbs played at Sam Houston State University and most recently coached at Deer Park High School in Houston.