2011 Magic Coaching Staff Taking Shape

MADISON, MO ---  Missouri Magic State Director Mark McLaughlin announced the return of three coaches for the 2011 season today.

NORTH MISSOURI COACHES

• TIM COOL, head boys basketball coach at Newtown-Harris will direct the Missouri Magic Senior Select squad and the Missouri Magic 17U North squad next summer.  The Senior Select will return to the Big Shots I-II tournaments in Myrtle Beach, SC July 5-10, 2011.  Cool coached Newtown-Harris to the Class 1 Championship game in 2009 and has appeared in the Elite Eight four times since 2004.
• CHRIS JOHNSON, past head boys basketball coach at Lone Jack High School and head coach of the Magic 14U North, will reform the 14U North at the 15U level in 2011, and will also build a 12U Developmental squad.  These teams will play in Single-Session play.  Johnson's Lone Jack squad reached the Final Four in 2007.
• DANNY MISSEY will return to direct the 16U North squad next spring and summer.  A sophomore at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Missey will direct 16U North and may be assigned a 14U North ssquad as well.

Discussions are underway with Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia area coaches to develop teams under the Magic banner.  North Missouri will field two teams at the 14U level next year, a 15U competitive squad, a 15U Regional squad, a 16U Competitive squad, 17U Elite, 17U North and 19U Senior Select teams.

The Magic's focus in coaching hiring is to find coaches with experience at the high school level, and to bring along and develop young coaches who have been a part of the Magic program.

McLaughlin, who has directed more than 90-AAU and select travel team squads since 1997, is planning currently to move into an administrative role, taking a year's break away from coaching.  He will assist Coach Cool in the summer, potentially coaching the Senior Select squad in the spring, and will turn attention towards the overall development of the state, and Magic expansion into Southern Illinois and work in support of the Nebraska Magic organization.

Coaches will be announced as they committ.  If Interested in coaching with the Missouri Magic, contact McLaughlin at 660-291-4488 or by cell at 712-579-9613.

 2011 Schedule and Program under construction

The 2011 Missouri Magic program schedule is under construction and will be released soon.  12U through 15U age groups in Missouri will play a "single-session" schedule that includes 1 April event, 1 May event, 2-June events and 2-July events, for one session cost.

North 15 and 16U teams and all 17U teams will play a dual session schedule, as in the past.  The changes reflect what we believe will be more serviceable for parents within the different regions. 

Other changes at lower levels include Developmental and Competitive level teams.  Developmental teams will concentrate on participation and will guarantee equal playing time, carrying 9-10 players to a team.  Competitive teams will stress competition and playing to win events.  These teams will carry 8-9 players.

South Missouri teams and North Missouri teams will run slightly different schedules, based on the regional needs of teams.  The full schedules will be released August 28, including tryout dates, program schedules and costs.

2011 Return/Invitations to be extended shortly

 Members of 2010 Missouri Magic teams will soon be receiving an invitation letter inviting them to confirm their spot for the 2011 season.

The organization and coaches need to know who can be counted on in order to move forward with recruiting.  The goal is to have all spring teams 70% full by the beginning of basketball season and single-session younger level teams 70% full by Decemeber 1.  While we will have a series of tryouts and conduct individual recruiting between now and the start of basketball, and then throughout the season, most players participating in the 2010 program will have the option of returning.

The confirm deadline to reserve a spot on a 2011 team will be September 28.  Tryouts are tentatively scheduled October 16-17 and 23-24, 2010 to fill younger teams and begin looking at older players.  17U "open run" workouts will be announced shortly for current sophomores and juniors interested in playing with the Magic at three sites in Missouri.

Returning players will have the option, once they have reviewed documents to "early confirm" with a 10% discount on early sign-up if single-paying.  A $350 deposit is required to confirm your spot by September 28.