Neal Wester is new boys' basketball coach at Westbrook Christian

Neal Wester is returning to Alabama high school basketball coaching, in a situation that he sees as a perfect fit.

Wester is the new boys’ coach at Westbrook Christian School, succeeding Seth Ford.

“I’m excited about the opportunity after talking with Mr. (John) Croyle and Mrs. (Rachel) Neal, the (administrator),” he said. “I can’t wait to get started. Westbrook is a unique place and I feel blessed by the trust they’ve put in me.”

Wester spent the past four seasons as a teacher and assistant coach in Georgia after retiring as coach at Cherokee County High School, his alma mater. He was at Coosa High School in Rome for one year and Chattooga High in Summerville for three.

He directed teams to 492 victories in 27 seasons as a head coach in Alabama, starting and finishing with separate six-season stints at Cherokee County (1991-97 and 2013-19). In between, he spent three seasons at Etowah (1997-2000), two at Ashville (2000-02) and a decade at Oneonta (2003-2013).

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Wester led Oneonta to three straight Class 4A Northeast Regional appearances from 2010 to 2012, and to the Final Four in 2012. His teams were 72-22 during that three-year run; one of his players was his son, Ryne, who now is an assistant coach at Southside High.

He said he was attracted both by Westbrook’s objectives as a school, and its potential athletically.

“I looked at what it (Westbrook) is all about, and I talked to them, and I got the feeling that we’re on the same mission,” Wester said. “They want to help develop kids, and that’s what I want to do.

“They also have been great in athletics, and I look at it as an opportunity to do what God has led me to do,” he said. “Hopefully, we can build a championship program, compete every year for championships.”

Westbrook was 20-7 this past season.

“I talked to the team (Thursday),” Wester said. “We have good numbers and the players were very attentive during the meeting. We’ve got a good nucleus coming back and some good guys moving up to the high school team. I really think we can be successful right away. This group is ready to win and win big.”

His coaching philosophy stresses balance. “We like to play up tempo, but we want to be able to win multiple ways and be good in all areas,” he said. “I’m passionate and enthusiastic, and I hope that carries over to our players.”

Wester’s hiring came only days after Westbrook hired Jeremy Brooks, who’d spent 17 seasons at Gadsden City High School, as girls’ basketball coach. The school in January hired Steve Smith, who led Piedmont High to five state football championships, as football coach and athletic director.

It’s working on a new basketball practice facility, with two full-length courts and a weight room.

Wester said he’s looking forward to working with Smith and Brooks, and with the other coaches on staff, adding, “This is a good fit for me.”

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Neal Wester new Westbrook Christian boys coach