North Port High names Bruce Wallace as its boys basketball coach

NORTH PORT — Bruce Wallace was looking for a high school boys basketball coaching job before the North Port High job became open.

In fact, Wallace actually looked at other spots in Florida before getting a tip from his mom, Deanne Kells, who lives in Ocala. She said the Bobcats’ position would suit him better.

After doing a phone interview with the North Port brass, Wallace drove to Florida from North Carolina to interview face-to-face.

Mom’s tip paid off.

North Port director of athletics Tony Miller announced Wallace as the Bobcats’ new head coach Monday. Miller was part of a diverse seven-person committee that chose Wallace from a group of about 35 candidates.

"He had the best plan moving forward for us," Miller said. "I liked his energy and philosophy. He did his research and knew who are kids were. When we narrowed it down, he was the one that everybody had on their list."

He replaces Ryan Power, who took over the North Port program in 2016. Power returned to his hometown and now is the basketball coach at Jensen Beach High School.

As for Wallace, he is “super excited” after landing his second head coaching position in as many years.

Wallace was the head coach at Davie County High School in Mocksville, North Carolina, for one season, going 13-11 in North Carolina’s top classification. He also was a varsity assistant for four seasons and the junior varsity coach for three seasons at Davie County.

“It seems like a good community and a good culture. It’s just one of those things ... God takes you to a place for the right reason,” Wallace said.

Wallace likes his teams to play fast with a motion offense.

“I want to make sure we attack in transition, drive and kick,” he said. “I want the kids to shoot with confidence and be aggressive on offense and defense.”

He plans to use multiple defenses.

"Being in North Carolina, that's a little different type of basketball," Miller said. "That might bring some excitement that's a little bit different than we are used to seeing."

The 30-year-old Wallace watched all of North Port’s games last year on Hudl.

“We have a chance to win some ball games,” Wallace said of the Bobcats, who finished 12-13 a season ago.

During the summer, Wallace and top assistant Zach Babut, a former North Port High player, have a number of games lined up along with “skill development."

“We’ll have plenty of that going on this summer,” Wallace said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running Monday.”

After finding a place to live in Port Charlotte, Wallace will be in the area next week. In the fall, the history teacher will teach freshman readiness.

“For a year, hopefully, and then get on this history staff,” he said.

A San Diego native, Wallace moved to North Carolina and played football, basketball and ran track for Owen High School.

"He knows basketball," Miller said. "His basketball IQ is very high. When he played he was a point guard, so he's got that knowledge."

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. 

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port High names Bruce Wallace as its boys basketball coach