Girls basketball Coach Chuck Perez
BY BRIAN RZEPPA
One of the most consistent programs throughout Trenton High School over the past three years is going to have a different look as the 2019-2020 academic year rolls around.
With over a decade of experience coaching basketball in the Downriver area, Chuck Perez has made his way to Trenton after recently being named head coach of the varsity girls basketball team.
Perez, who graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn and now lives on Grosse Ile, brings about a resume that is filled with success.
“I got my start in coaching through the Allen Park Parks and Recreation Department and have coached around the area since then.” Perez said. “From 2009 through 2018, I was the head coach of the Allen Park Varsity Girls team and last year I was an assistant coach with Woodhaven.
“Two mentors that I’ve had playing in the Dearborn Public School system were Richard Stehlik and John Kreger. They had a big influence on my style of coaching.”
Perez heard about the opening from a fellow Downriver League coach and wanted to act immediately. Putting in his application without hesitation, Perez knew that he wanted to be a part of the Trenton athletics community.
Perez replaces Will Jones, who helped lead the team to heights it had not reached in several years.
“Trenton has really become a strong program over the past few years and it seemed like a great opportunity for me to try to build on the success they have had over the past few years.”
Taking over a team that has recently gone deep into the postseason and has asserted themselves as a dominant force, Perez feels that he can make some positive contributions to what has made the team so successful without ‘reinventing the wheel.’
“Coming into my first year with the program, I want to keep a lot of the elements that have made the team successful, while adding in some things that I’ve picked up during my time at Allen Park and Woodhaven.”
While taking over a previously successful program generally presents a great opportunity, the added expectations that come with it can often increase the pressure on an incoming head coach.
“There are naturally going to be higher expectations that come along with a program like Trenton, but you just have to keep things going and keep the team on the right path. I was very fortunate to have a great staff at Allen Park High School and am looking forward to working with the successful staff at Trenton High School. The staff around me is going to help tremendously in the success of the program.”
Though the season doesn’t tip off until the winter, Perez has already been able to meet with the team and their parents to discuss his goals for the program.
“I met with the girls and many of the parents and it was a great experience. I explained to them some of my key areas of focus as a program, which included academics, strong work ethic, communication, competitive practices, preparation and having fun.”
“If you’re not making things fun for your team, you’re going to lose them sooner or later. It is really important to me to make playing basketball an enjoyable experience.”
A former Coach of the Year and someone whose teams have enjoyed both academic and athletic success, Perez is hoping to hit the ground running in his first year with the Trojans.
“With the players that graduated last year, we lost about 600 points from last year’s team — or around 23 points per game. With the players we have returning, we’re hoping they can step up and grow into major contributors.
“We want to be in the top three of the league and I really believe we can do that if we grow as a team. When looking around the league to see which teams are bringing back all of their starters, I noticed there have been a few other coaching changes at Wyandotte, Carlson and Woodhaven. Scouting will be important, learning the new coaches’ tendencies and their players’ strengths. We always have an initial goal of winning the Downriver League, then getting prepared for the state playoffs.”