Florida Athletic Coach's Association selects boys basketball coaches, players of year

DAYTONA BEACH — The Florida Athletic Coaches Association selected its boys basketball coaches of the year on Monday.

In District 9, four area coaches received top honors across the different classes. Halifax’s Shamus Daughtery won in 2A and Atlantic’s Justin Vallejo, 4A. Deltona's Brad Fraser is the association’s top coach in 5A and New Smyrna Beach’s Zach Camporese in 6A.

The association also chose players of the year. Isaiah Robinson of Deltona and Elijah Laird of Pine Ridge are co-players of the year in 5A. Atlantic’s John Killingsworth is the top player in 4A. Halifax Academy’s Tola Dixon topped 2A.

New Smyrna Beach’s Camporese also won overall Coach of the Year in District 9. He led the Barracudas to a 21-5 finish.

The News-Journal spoke with the second-year coach about his honor.

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Myer Lee: When you found out you won Coach of the Year, what was your reaction?

Zach Camporese: I’m really grateful, humbled and appreciative. The award goes out to the New Smyrna Beach community. People at the school from the academic side, the athletic staff that does all the work behind the scenes and the kids that put the work in every day. To have the respect amongst my peers, the other coaches in town, it means a lot for them to vote for me.

I didn’t know I was going to get voted for any of that.

ML: Talk to me about the leap your guys took this season and what you all were able to accomplish?

ZC: Going from last year to this year, I only had a short window to be able to put in stuff. It was trying to prepare on the fly — I didn’t really have any time [last year]. [This year,] I was able to have the whole time and a season to prepare.

We had a sit down with all of our guys who were returning and who were interested in playing. We let them know our foundation is going to be hard work, dedication, and we’re going to challenge you academically and athletically. You’re going to have to earn everything you get — no handouts.

Every single day, everyone wanted to get better. They wanted to be challenged. They wanted to do whatever they could to get to that next level in their game.

ML: What are the most important foundations of your program?

ZC: The family aspect. Helping kids attain their goals and their dreams. I just wanted to build a family and kids who have high respect among each other and in the community. On and off the court — they’ve got to make sure they’re able to handle their business as well.

You serve others first and good things will happen for you.

ML: Is that what’s most important to you as a coach? Serving others?

ZC: For sure. Making sure there’s that family and hardworking aspect and my sure kids reach their goals. Also, to grow the program every day.

ML: What do you want the community or athletes to know about New Smyrna Beach basketball?

ZC: You’re going to have to work hard and you’re going to have a coach who really cares about you on and off the court. We’re in [the athlete’s] corner every step of the way. Some days might be tougher than others but it's for their benefit.

We’re going to be there. We’re going to push them. We’re going to be that mentor, that father figure. Making sure we work hard to get kids to where they want to go within their goals and dreams.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Boys basketball: New Smyrna Beach's Zach Camporese among coaches honored