Mike Beale

FREEPORT — Mike Beale has been involved with the Freeport boys basketball program so long, who better to take over the reins — again?

For the third time in 10 seasons, Beale will be the head coach of the Yellowjackets.

He served as interim head coach in 2002-03 when Garrie Davies stepped down after 21 seasons, then moved back as an assistant when Davies returned the following season.

Beale then returned as head coach from 2004-05 to 2006-07 before Gene Rodgers took over for two years.

When Davies returned for the past two seasons, Beale served as an assistant and as the junior varsity coach.

“I think it will be a smooth transition,” said Beale, who has a 50-35 record in his four years as head coach. “I think the kids are relieved things will stay the same. I met with (next year's) seniors Sean and Alex Carson, and Ryan Dunn. They're glad they won't have to learn a whole new system.”

“Mike brings stability and continuity,” Davies said. “He understands the multidimensional aspect of basketball. It's not just coaching. It's practices, boosters, public relations.

“Mike brings a calmness. He was head coach for four years and assisted multiple years. ... He has a sense of the program and sees the big picture,” Davies added.

In Beale's first season as coach, he guided the Yellowjackets to a section title with a perfect 14-0 record, 17-6 overall. Three of his four squads qualified for the WPIAL playoffs.

In all, Beale, a physical education teacher at Freeport, has been involved in some capacity with Freeport basketball, as a player, assistant coach and head coach, and has been linked to Davies all along the way.

“I played for Coach, so we had a player-coach relationship,” Beale noted. “I was part of his first playoff team. That core of first players helped to lay the foundation.

“Then, it was a mentor-coach relationship. Then I replaced him as coach. Those are big shoes to fill,” Beale added.

Davies left after two years because he had returned just to get the program back in place.

“We wanted to elevate the program back where it was,” Davies said. “Our summer camp, we now have over 100. Our numbers are up. ... I thought it would take longer, but we have a good group of guys helping out.”

And that includes the type of players that epitomize Yellowjackets basketball. Beale was one of those players and has coached them as well.

“I think the type of kid we're getting out hasn't changed in the last 20 years,” Beale said. “All are hard-nosed kids. They go all out. That's what we like.”