New McLaughlin boys basketball coach brings Division-I experience

From the time Michael Slonaker was 4 years old, he knew calling his own shots from the sidelines was his career destiny.

As of late last month, Slonaker was given that opportunity to steer the course when it was announced he would be taking over for Greg O'Connell as head boys basketball coach at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School.

"To be a head coach is so exciting," said Slonaker, 26, who is coming off a one-and-a-half-year assistant coaching stint at Division I Campbell University, in Buies Creek, N.C. "This certainly isn't a step back at all. I'm just really excited to blow my own whistle, call my own time outs and use those theories I've had in my head about what works and what doesn't work."

The reason behind Slonaker's nearly lifelong clipboard-toting desire begins with his father, Mark. The elder Slonaker played at the University of Georgia in the late 1970s and then coached the game collegiately for 26 years. Michael, who grew up in Georgia, played for his father at Division I Mercer University.

After graduating from Mercer in 2007, Slonaker immediately took his first assistant job at Shorter University, in Rome, Ga., an NAIA program.

"I was very fortunate at the age I was to be in that position," he said of his first hire. "It's very hard to get into college coaching and I was able to work my way up to the Division I level. At times I was just amazed at how my career path has gone."

Next stop: 13651 Hays Road, Spring Hill. And the Bishop McLaughlin athletic department couldn't be happier.

"We're very, very excited here," said the school's baseball coach Nick Rodriguez, filling in at the time during the program's athletic director transition. "He's first-class and comes from a great coaching background. He has a knowledge of the game, but what I think he's going to bring leadership-wise is what's going to help us get to the next level."

After the Hurricanes struggled to a 1-19 record last season, Slonaker said he's ready to begin taking a step-by-step approach to fostering a winning mentality at a school that he already thinks can sustain a lasting positive tradition.

"I know there hasn't been a lot of winning as far as last year goes, so you can kind of change the culture," he said. "Once you give them something to hang their hat on, anything, then they can believe and trust in you. Then you can really take off and go to the next level."

"It's a whole different challenge," he said. "I go in there with a blank slate. I don't know much about the kids yet, let alone who's going to be starting, so everyone gets a chance to prove themselves."

In terms of turning around the Hurricanes' basketball program, Rodriguez noted that Slonaker is already bringing successful resume to McLaughlin.

"Coaching in Florida at any level is becoming harder and harder and his resume clearly jumped out compared to what most high school coaches have at that point."

During his year at Shorter University, Slonaker helped the Hawks finish with the second-most wins in school history. The next season he was part of the Campbell staff that turned the Camels into the most improved team in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Campbell then finished first in the regular-season standings this past year.

The challenge is to replicate those successes in Spring Hill.

"When there's a complete change like this, you can instill a different attitude," Slonaker said. "With this school and these facilities, I think the program is going in the right direction and I'm just glad to be a part of it now."

"And, hopefully, it takes off while I'm here."