BUFFALO TWP — Wayne Greiser has been a head high school basketball coach before.

This time, though, it's different.

This time, he'll be coaching in his hometown at his alma mater.

Greiser, who spent four years as the Yough boys basketball coach before returning to Freeport for the last four seasons as an assistant, was named the head boys basketball coach for the Yellowjackets recently.

He takes over for Mike Beale, who spent the last 12 years at the helm.

“At Yough, I couldn't be in touch with the whole program the way I wanted,” Greiser said. “We'd have a game on a Friday night and we'd get back to the gym at 11 p.m. I wouldn't get home until midnight and then have to be on the road again by 5:30 a.m. for a 7 a.m. practice. It was tough.”

Not such problems now for Greiser, who just moved into a new home in Sarver with his wife, Diana, and two daughters, Laiken, 5, and Oaklie, 4.

“At Yough I went there to coach and left with no attachments like I have here,” Greiser said. “It's definitely special when you're coaching at your alma mater. I started coaching here. I played here. I have two little ones in the district.”

Greiser, who just turned 40 in April, was a standout in three sports during his playing days at Freeport.

He starred with the football, basketball and baseball teams.

A wide receiver/defensive back for the Yellowjackets' football team, Greiser earned a chance to play at the next level at Division II Mercyhurst University, but an injury ended that dream.

Also a gifted baseball player, Greiser played at Butler County Community College, where he still holds the single-season record for batting average.

Now, his focus is squarely on basketball.

Greiser has a young and talented team returning, led by senior guard Jalen Brown.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Greiser said. “I'm here to win. No one's position is guaranteed. Like I told our juniors, if a freshman comes in and outplays you, they are going to play.”

The coaching staff around Greiser is also intact. In fact, Beale is staying on as a volunteer assistant.

“Our offense and defensive schemes are going to stay the same,” Greiser said.

Well, sort of.

Greiser wants to push his foot down on a gas pedal even more this season.

“If you've seen us the past few years — we like to shoot,” Greiser said.

Especially the 3-pointer.

Freeport may shoot even more of them under Greiser.

Greiser has been in contact with First Flight boys basketball coach Chad Williams.

First Flight, a school in Kill Devil, NC, averages 41 attempts from 3-point range a game.

While Greiser may not go to that extreme, he definitely has a soft spot for that style.

“We're looking into some of what they do,” Greiser said.

What Greiser wants to do most of all is seize this opportunity at a place he calls home.

“It was always my dream to coach here,” Greiser said.