Scott was star on 2001 state championship squad
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Basketball has been good to Kyle Scott.
The 2002 Catholic Central graduate has won a high school state championship, played collegiately and worked for the NBA.
In fact, Scott even had the opportunity to meet NBA MVP Kevin Durant while working with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Though he’s only 29, his vast experience with the sport should suit him just fine in his new position – Catholic Central varsity boys basketball head coach.
After former coach Eric Henderson recently left the Toppers for an assistant coaching position at Division 1 North Dakota State University, Athletic Director Tom Aldrich only needed a couple weeks before deciding on Henderson’s right-hand man for the past three seasons.
“I found out Saturday morning,” Scott said. “It’s a big torch to carry. I couldn’t be more blessed. CC is my alma mater and is very near and dear to me. It’s a family-like atmosphere.”
Aldrich couldn’t be happier with the new coach, who was part of the 2001 Division 4 state champion Toppers.
“Kyle brings with him a vast knowledge of the game he has acquired, as a player in both high school and college, as an assistant coach at the high school level and having worked in the NBA,” Aldrich said. “He is a hard worker who is passionate about not only the game of basketball, but in developing young athletes, to be the best they can be, in all facets of their lives.”
“Catholic Central High School feels very fortunate to have found a coach with all the attributes Kyle Scott brings to the table, and we are excited for all he will do for our student athletes.”
While Scott describes the Toppers as a family-like atmosphere, it was that strong attachment to family that brought Scott back to his hometown.
A sharp-shooting guard with the Toppers, he was an integral member of the 2001 state title team. Then, he played Division 3 basketball at Edgewood College in Madison for five years.
After tearing his anterior-cruciate ligament and missing his fourth year, he returned for a fifth year.
Scott earned bachelor’s degrees in business marketing and business management, and an Edgewood teammate helped him land a dream job.
Scott moved out to Los Angeles to work in the scouting department with the NBA’s L.A. Clippers. Then, the next year, Scott landed another NBA job with the Seattle Supersonics. Two weeks after getting the job, the Supersonics franchise moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder.
Scott soaked up the tutelage of basketball geniuses like Mike Dunleavy Sr., P.J. Carlesimo and Scott Brooks.
But it wasn’t all glitz and glamour.
“I would travel all the time,” Scott said. “I was with the teams every day. It was tough. We wanted to be back with our families.”
So in 2009, Scott and his wife, Beth, another Catholic Central alum, came back to Burlington. Scott landed an assistant coaching job with the Burlington Demons under Steve Berezowitz in 2009-10.
In 2010, Scott joined Henderson’s staff at Catholic Central. Last year, Scott became an admissions director at Catholic Central High School.
Scott was able to implement a lot of NBA offensive sets with the Toppers over the past three seasons. But the professional level isn’t much different from high school, according to Scott.
“It’s all basketball,” he said. “It’s a lot of the same things. I went wild with NBA sets, so I anticipate a lot of sets offensively. NBA isn’t much different, but I’m far more intrigued with impacting kids’ lives.”
Mostly a mild-mannered guy who intends to teach the kids with the utmost respect, Scott said he can get fired up if needed.
A father to 11-month-old Reed, Scott was very close with Henderson and his family.
“Seeing how positive Eric is had rubbed off on me,” Scott said. “I’m forever indebted to him.”
Coming off a 21-5 season, the Toppers are in a constant struggle for wins in the ultra-competitive Metro Classic Conference.
Though there are only five contact days in the offseason, Scott said he has a close relationship with the players.
“They all have my cell number,” he said. “I’m there for them. We are very close. We will lift all summer long, and we will focus on plenty of individual drills. Our team maturity was great this year. Guys grew up.”
Starters Gavin Foote, Spencer Wilker and Ben Heiligenthal return next season. Scott said there’s no reason his squad can’t be in the upper echelon of the conference.
So what will Scott bring in his first season?
“I want to do the kids justice every single day,” he said. “I want to lead them the best I can. If they work hard every day, it will be a job well done.”
Kyle Scott Timeline
2001: Won D4 state championship as player with Catholic Central
2002-2007: Played D3 college basketball at Edgewood College, Madison
2007-08: Worked in scouting department with NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers
2008-09: Worked in scouting with NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder
2009-2010: Assistant coach with Burlington Demons boys basketball
2010-2014: Assistant coach with Catholic Central boys basketball
Monday: Named CCHS boys hoops head coach
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