Epps back in the game
SPRINGDALE — The time and place were right for Aaron Epps — and the 1998 Butler graduate is back in the coaching game.
Epps, a former Golden Tornado basketball standout, was recently hired as head boys basketball coach at Springdale High School.
He did not coach last season after leading Hempfield's girls basketball team to five WPIAL playoff appearances in five years, putting together an 81-43 record. He resigned following the 2016-17 season.
“The travel got to be too much,” Epps said. “I live close to Pittsburgh and the Springdale location is just better for me.
“The timing was right for me to get back into it. I've been coaching AAU boys basketball with Matt Clement and I wanted my next job to be coaching boys. The only way I would have taken a girls job would have been with a college team.”
Springdale is coming off a 13-10 season that resulted in a WPIAL playoff berth. The Bulldogs dropped a 73-46 decision to OLSH in the Class 2A semifinals.
Springdale has only been to the playoffs twice in the past eight years.
“I wanted to take over a program that I could get over the hump,” Epps said. “I like that challenge and I love the attitude of the kids there.
“We've been having open gym and the turnouts have been great.”
Epps said 25 players showed up for open gym on the first day and 17 more on the second day.
“These are hard-working kids and they're very enthusiastic,” he said. “There's some starting experience coming back. I believe this team can make an impact right away.”
Epps replaces Seth Thompson, who resigned after last season. Thompson was 34-85 in seven seasons at Springdale, 17-53 in section play.
Last year marked the Bulldogs' first playoff appearance since the 2011-12 season.
“We have a nice mix of older kids and younger kids. They all listen, they've been paying attention,” Epps said. “This is a coachable group.
“My goal is to establish a consistent program that gets to the playoffs every year. That's what I mean by getting over the hump. We had that at Butler, we built it at Hempfield and I think it's ready to happen at Springdale.”
Epps served as an assistant coach on his mother's staff with the Butler girls basketball program for a number of years. His first head coaching job was with the Kiski Area girls team. He led the Cavaliers to a 16-7 record and a playoff appearance before moving on to Hempfield.
Last year marked the first time Epps wasn't on a high school coaching staff in 14 seasons.
“I didn't really miss it that much until the playoffs,” he admitted. “I love the postseason. You put in all that work to get there.
“When I was coaching girls, we'd only have four or five show up for open gym. They were into other things during the summer. There was no off-season. With these boys, there is an off-season and I love it.”
Now that he's coaching high school boys basketball, Epps is not looking to use Springdale as a stepping stone.
“No way,” he insisted. “I want to stick around, continue to stay and build. You have to focus on what you're trying to do and I'm all about building a winning program right here.”
