Braden River High names Gilmer its new boys basketball coach
BRADENTON — Dwight Gilmer prides himself on finding the next best opportunity when it comes to coaching.
When the Braden River High boys basketball position opened, Gilmer thought it was a good place to continue his coaching career and build a program.
Friday, Pirates’ director of athletics Matt Nesser announced the school named Gilmer as its new boys basketball coach.
“When I looked at the opportunity of Braden River, it just felt like it was time for me to make a change,” said Gilmer, who takes over for Jason Mickan, who stepped down after 12 years at the school.
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After spending the past three years coaching the boys varsity at Bayshore High, Gilmer made the move across Manatee County.
The Bruins went 11-15 last season. Taking over for Wilmore Fowler prior to the start of the 2018 season, Bayshore went 48-56 during Gilmer’s four seasons.
Two of the Bruins’ victories last year came against Braden River: 49-25 on the road and 68-30 at home.
Gilmer does not remember much from those two games. “I didn’t know as many players as I probably should have,” he said. “They had a little bit of a down year, so there weren’t too many players who stuck out in my mind. They have a good tradition of having pretty good players and really working hard. I always respected what Coach Mickan did over there. They always played very, very hard. That’s the kind of kids I like to be around. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with the kids.”
During the next week or two, he plans to put his players through workouts to evaluate their skill level and continue the process of building relationships.
“Get them in the gym and get them up and down and see what they can do,” Gilmer said. “Get familiar with them. One thing I know about coaching any sport is you’ve got to have relationships with your players before you can start ordering them around. We’ll spend the next couple of weeks of getting to know each other and see what kind of chemistry we can form.”
After he introduces himself to the players’ parents, he will lay out his plans for the summer and the rest of the offseason.
“Going into May we’ll start working out and preparing for the summer,” Gilmer said. “And see what we can do to build the program.”
One of the problems that has plagued the Pirates’ program during the past few years is player transfers.
“You never know why kids leave, whether the grass is greener on the other side or not necessarily getting what they are looking for where they are at,” Gilmer said. “I try to stay out of that stuff. I try to stay out of why people leave and why people transfer. I really focus on the ones I have and be the best coach I can be, the best mentor I can be and pray and hope they want to stay and be a part of what we want to build. I’m really big on family and making sure my kids know they are loved and supported on and off the court. Hopefully that’s enough.
“Sometimes it is; sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes these kids are looking for something else and they leave. That’s the landscape nowadays.”
A graduate of Southeast High, Gilmer played college basketball at Manatee Community College, where he earned his Associates of Arts Degree.
After his basketball career, he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Business from the University of Phoenix. Gilmer spent several years in corporate America, before he began coaching basketball at Riverview High in Hillsborough County.
He has spent five years as an assistant at Southeast High, three as the Seminoles junior varsity coach, before going to Bayshore.
SOFTBALL
Venice 9, Braden River 3
TOP PLAYERS: V, Micaela Hartman (4-4, 3 2B, 3 runs, 3 SB), Bri Weimer (2-4 2 2B, 3B, 3RBI), Riley Sullivan (2-4, 2B, RBI).
PITCHING: V, Layne Preece (WP, 6 Ks).
RECORD: Venice (13-1).
Lakewood Ranch 9, Sarasota 0
AT: Sarasota High
TOP PLAYERS: LR, Sydney McCray (3-4), Kelsey Vogel (2-3, 2 RBI), Ella Coiner (2-3, 2 RBI).
PITCHING: Ella Dodge (WP, 10-2, 5IP, 1H, 7K), Ella Coiner (1IP), Peyton Knight (1IP)
RECORD: Lakewood Ranch (12-2); Sarasota (10-5).
OF NOTE: Lakewood Ranch is ranked No. 6 in the nation by USA Today.
BASEBALL
Manatee 3, Bradenton Christian 1
TOP PLAYERS: M, Berzowski (2 hits, SB), Zinna (2 hits, SB); BCS, Balais (hit, walk, 2 SB).
PITCHING: M, Rodriguez (WP), Tetrick (S).
GIRLS LACROSSE
Riverview 13, Gulf Coast 12 OT
AT: Riverview High, Sarasota.
TOP PLAYERS: R, Susan Lowther (6 goals, assist, 9 draw controls, 2 ground balls), Caroline Steinwachs (goal, assist, 6 draw controls, 2 ground balls), Chloe Hackl (2 goals).
RECORDS: Riverview (10-6).
BOYS WEIGHTLIFTING
Class 3A-District 12
TRADITIONAL
Team scores — Venice 80, Riverview 67, North Port 44, Sarasota 13, Riverdale 13.
Individual winners — 119 pounds,Tyler Moya (NP) 310 pounds; 129, Aiden Debrun (V) 360; 139, Dabien Reitz (R) 460; 154, Clauvins Alexander (NP) 450; 169, Olajuwan Mitchell (S) 475; 183, Ahmad Hunter (R) 525; 199, Logan Ballard (V) 555; 219, Max Kollar (R) 630; 238, George Philip (V) 630; Hwt., Jonathan Petty (R) 665.
SNATCH
Team scores — North Port 54, Sarasota 27, Riverdale 6.
Individual winners — 119 pounds, Jackson (S) 85 pounds; 154, Caluvins Alexander (NP) 155; 169, Mark Monchecourt (S) 145; 183, Joey Adebayo (NP) 125; 199, Nathan Clark (NP) 160; 219, Tyler Sar (NP) 45; 239, Ronnie Elkhiatib (NP) 155; Hwt., Luke Baker (NP) 45.
Dennis Maffezzoli is the deputy sports editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and chief reporter for Sarasota Herald-Tribune and HTpreps covering Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Braden River High names Gilmer its new boys basketball coach
