Freeport boys establishing culture under new coach after losing 10 seniors

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, November 18, 2023 | 4:55 PM

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Rich Macura basically has been involved with Freeport basketball his entire life.

He started as a player in third grade and was a longtime assistant coach for the Yellowjackets, so getting the opportunity to be the bench boss at his alma mater is a dream come true.

“What’s exciting is not only will I get to coach kids in the community, but I will get to coach with former players that played for me,” Macura said.

Macura takes over for Sean Devinney, who resigned after last season for family reasons.

His assistant coaches are freeport grads Josh Beale and Jalen Brown and Knoch grad Austin Miller. All three have relatives who are former coaches. Beale’s father, Mike Beale, was a longtime coach at Freeport. Brown’s late grandfather, Bill Brown, was the men’s basketball coach at Cal (Pa.) for 20 years before becoming an assistant under Keith Dambrot at Duquesne. Miller’s dad, Bill Miller, coached basketball at Butler County Community College.

Macura was an assistant coach for Mike Beale when he was at Freeport. He spent the last couple of years as an assistant at Highlands with Corey Dotchin.

Freeport qualified for the playoffs last season and lost in the first round to Laurel Highlands.

The Yellowjackets were an older team last year and graduated 10 seniors.

They return five seniors in Gavin Glista, Brady Sullivan, Brady Paga, Brian Kijowski and Jayden Diehl.

Diehl was a standout on the Freeport golf team this fall.

Gavin and Sullivan are experienced at the varsity level, and Macura said they are talented offensive players.

“We’re going to lean on those guys for leadership, especially early on until the rest of the players feel a little more comfortable in our system, which is going to be a little different than last year,” Macura said. “The other players look up to them, so as long as they are setting a good example we should be good in the future.”

Macura’s goal is for the Yellowjackets to play at a faster pace this season.

“We’re going to make it fun to play and fun to watch as a fan,” Macura said.

The Yellowjackets will host their annual tip-off tournament Dec. 1-2. Riverview, Shady Side Academy and Valley are the other three teams in the tournament.

Freeport is in Section 1-4A with Highlands, Hampton, Knoch, Derry and Indiana.

It’ll be a competitive section, one Macura knows well from being at Highlands last year.

“Our main goal right now, especially in this first year, is to come in and set up our culture, so we’re there to compete every day both in practice and in every game,” Macura said. “How that process takes us into the wins and losses, we’ll find out.”

Freeport boys at a glance

Coach: Rich Macura

Last year’s record: 13-10 (5-5 Section 1-4A)

Returning starters: Brady Sullivan (Sr., G), Gavin Glista (Sr., G)

Top newcomers: Jayden Diehl (Sr., G)

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Freeport