When Coach Brent Jameson thinks of Scottsburg High School’s boys varsity basketball program, he sees a program steeped in tradition and a program whose players give it their all.
“I was really attracted to the tradition — the tradition of champions,” Jameson said. “They play really hard.”
Jameson was hired as the new SHS boys varsity basketball coach on May 10; he will be the 21st coach in the school’s history. He replaces Brady Wells, who retired after 13 seasons, a record of 178 wins and 125 losses, and ranking as the second for all-time wins in SHS history.
“We’re really excited to be a part of the Warrior tradition,” Jameson said.
Before coming to Scottsburg, Jameson spent a considerable amount of time on and off the court. Growing up in Corunna, Mich., a town of about 3,500 people and located halfway between Flint and Lansing, Jameson played on his high school’s basketball team. Jameson was part of three, undefeated conference-title teams and a district-championship team. His senior year, Jameson received all-conference and all-area honors.
“I loved being part of a team. I love the competition,” Jameson said. “I love the fast pace. I love that even if you don’t have the most talent, you can work hard and you can become better.”
After graduating high school, Jameson went on to play at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, located about 113 miles west of his hometown in Michigan. Jameson was part of the Cougars’ two consecutive league championships and runner-up region finishes. He also was coached by National Junior College Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Dick Shilts.
Tired of the Michigan winters and wanting to explore beyond his small-town borders, Jameson moved west to California with his sister after college.
“It was a dream of mine to live out on the west coast,” Jameson said.
Jameson traveled all around southern California and the Midwest in his position with a national franchise business before ending up in the capital city of Sacramento, Calif. While there, he started his coaching career at Sacramento High School as an assistant coach. Three years later, Jameson moved forward to be part of the coaching staff at Ohlone College, a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II school, and at Lakeshow AAU Basketball.
During his years in California, Jameson coached at least 11 players, who went on to play NCAA Division I schools. One player Jameson helped coach went on to play in the National Basketball Association Developmental League and another player who played on the Los Angeles Lakers Summer League before playing professionally overseas.
Then, Jameson received a phone call from his best friend, offering him an assistant coaching position in Indiana. Even though he never lived in Indiana, Jameson was excited to work and live in the state where high school basketball was born.
“Nothing compares to Indiana basketball,” Jameson said. “We kind of fell in love with Indiana basketball.”
Jameson took the assistant coaching position at Seymour and also served as the City of Seymour Director of Parks and Recreation.
“I took a kind of leap of faith. All the pieces fell together,” Jameson said.
Now as the head coach at Scottsburg, Jameson is spending part of his summer teaching a basketball camp, so students as young as kindergarteners can learn fundamentals and learn about SHS’ rich basketball traditions. To help with the camp and build excitement for the basketball program, Jameson asked current SHS players to spend their time working with the camp participants.
“It’s a good way to generate excitement and momentum,” Jameson said about the summer week-long camp. “[The younger boys] think so highly of [the high school players] as if they were Steph Curry.”
During the day’s camp session, Jameson continues to tell the campers that the drills are not a race and how important to do the drill correctly.
“We are teaching toughness and defense. Defense wins championships,” Jameson said. “We are teaching them the Warrior Way: Tough. Smart. Skilled.”
At Scott County School District 2, Jameson’s story is our story. Your story matters. You matter.