Buena's head coach Dave Glasgow gestures as he has words with one of his players in the quarter against Sunnyside.

Dave Glasgow never forgot his coaching roots.

Now, after 16 years leading Sierra Vista Buena's boys basketball program, Glasgow is returning to Coolidge, where he is in the school's sports Hall of Fame as a three-time state championship coach.

Glasgow said he will leave Buena at the end of the school year to take over Coolidge's boys basketball program. He got his first head coaching job at Coolidge in 1993. He led the Bears to 3A state titles in 1998, '99 and 2002. The 2002 team went 32-0.

He'll be returning to school where one of his former Coolidge players, Ben Armstrong, is now the principal. Armstrong also served as an assistant under Glasgow at Coolidge. Glasgow was head coach at Coolidge from 1993-2004, where he was 217-89 with six regional championships, six 20-or-more win seasons and two 30-or-more win seasons.

"I have been thinking about going back to Coolidge for the past few years," Glasgow said in an email. "A lot of former players have asked me about the possibility, including Principal Ben Armstrong.

"Ben played for me. I remember him coming to my first Summer Camp in Coolidge. I know him. I know his family. His being the principal went a long way toward making this happen."

Armstrong is ecstatic to have his former coach back.

"Dave returning to Coolidge brings things full circle," Armstrong said. I was a former player and coach under him and can tell you that there isn’t a better man for the job.

"His return will be greeted with the highest level of excitement and intrigue. During his first tenure in Coolidge, you were hard pressed to find a harder playing or more well-prepared team or program. That would include programs of all levels. The community is excited about returning to prominence and hopefully hanging multiple banners in the roundhouse this time around much like we did in his first stint."

Glasgow was 354-121 in his 16 years at Buena. His last team went 25-4 this season. He had 14 teams win 20 or more games. His 2009 and '11 teams reached the state semifinals.


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