Former Haines Glacier Bears basketball player and Haines School graduate Tyler Swinton, 27, is the new boys’ basketball head coach for this year’s season, taking the reins from long-time coach Steve Fossman.
Swinton said he was hired understanding that Fossman could return next year and that he opted out of coaching this year due to pandemic concerns.
Fossman coached for more than a decade and led the Glacier Bears basketball team to two state championships during his tenure. He did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
Swinton was on the 2010 championship team as a sophomore, one of two state titles in Glacier Bears history. “I’m excited. I’m lucky for the opportunity. I don’t know what this year has in store. I’m excited to get my feet wet and get started,” Swinton said. “I’d like to pass down whatever knowledge I have of the game to the kids. That’s the greatest joy I have, watching kids come into the program who may or may not have skill but by the time they leave, see the improvement they made.”
Swinton has spent the last several years coaching middle school athletes in the Community Youth Development basketball program. Several of those players are now freshmen and sophomores who he’s already worked with.
“When they left (CYD) they were pretty polished ball handlers and could play the game pretty fluently going into high school. Now it’s taking it to the next level,” Swinton said. “The team we have now is fast. I plan on using that to our advantage. We‘re looking to get in the gym and practice and be prepared. That’s my focus, to get them ready and get our offense and defense squared away and get them back to playing competitive basketball.”
Practice began this week. Swinton will start his coaching job during uncertain times. It’s unclear how games will be played. Some Southeast schools have opted out of the basketball season. Recent COVID-19 virus cases in Petersburg caused the school to delay games.
Coleman Stanford has been hired to coach the girls’ basketball squad. Stanford coached the team last year on a temporary basis, but is now filling in more permanently while former coach Greg Brittenham deals with health concerns.
“The girls are pumped up,” Stanford said. “We have eight girls so far. Everybody’s working hard and putting a solid foot forward for the circumstances being what they are.”
The Haines School District Board approved plans to let the Glacier Bears basketball teams compete against Skagway. Both teams will travel to and from the communities where they will spend one night. Skagway players will travel to Haines and spend the night in the school.
Superintendent Roy Getchell said administrators will assess the viability of playing additional teams on a month to month basis.