Sports Update
Boys basketball: Marcus names Waco La Vega's Clay Cody head coach
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Slightly more than three years ago, when Marcus' boys basketball team was searching for a replacement at head coach, the Marauders settled on Danny Henderson, a successful coach from Class 2A Peaster.
The rest is history as Henderson went on to lead the Marauders to three consecutive district and regional titles and a pair of Class 5A State Championships.
Now that Henderson has moved on to Duncanville, Marcus is taking a similar approach as they have hired former Waco La Vega head coach Clay Cody to the same position.
Last season, Cody led Class 3A La Vega to the state semifinals and a 35-2 record in his seventh season on the job.
"Coach Cody has a great basketball background from a basketball family and has a great track record of success," said Randy Mayes, LISD athletic director. "We're excited to have him and he is excited about the challenge that is in front of him."
Mayes acknowledged Henderson's success in transitioning to a 5A program played a part in the decision.
"We thought about that a little bit," he said. "Jumping from one class to another, there is definitely a learning curve, but it's not as big as you might think. Particularly with guys like coach Henderson or coach Cody, who have taken their teams to the state tournament in the past. There are certain things that have prepared them for coaching at this level and certain things that will be new to them, especially with the size of the school. But they also have a support structure and mentors that they can fall back on. Danny had that and Cody has that with his uncle (Jeff, who coached at Cleburne), who has a lot of experience and is someone we have worked with in the past."
Mayes said Cody will begin his coaching duties as soon as his "non-basketball stuff" is completed.
Cody takes over for Henderson, who accumulated a record of 115-6 in his three seasons on the bench.
For a look at what Cody intends to bring to the position, see future editions.
The rest is history as Henderson went on to lead the Marauders to three consecutive district and regional titles and a pair of Class 5A State Championships.
Now that Henderson has moved on to Duncanville, Marcus is taking a similar approach as they have hired former Waco La Vega head coach Clay Cody to the same position.
Last season, Cody led Class 3A La Vega to the state semifinals and a 35-2 record in his seventh season on the job.
"Coach Cody has a great basketball background from a basketball family and has a great track record of success," said Randy Mayes, LISD athletic director. "We're excited to have him and he is excited about the challenge that is in front of him."
Mayes acknowledged Henderson's success in transitioning to a 5A program played a part in the decision.
"We thought about that a little bit," he said. "Jumping from one class to another, there is definitely a learning curve, but it's not as big as you might think. Particularly with guys like coach Henderson or coach Cody, who have taken their teams to the state tournament in the past. There are certain things that have prepared them for coaching at this level and certain things that will be new to them, especially with the size of the school. But they also have a support structure and mentors that they can fall back on. Danny had that and Cody has that with his uncle (Jeff, who coached at Cleburne), who has a lot of experience and is someone we have worked with in the past."
Mayes said Cody will begin his coaching duties as soon as his "non-basketball stuff" is completed.
Cody takes over for Henderson, who accumulated a record of 115-6 in his three seasons on the bench.
For a look at what Cody intends to bring to the position, see future editions.
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