Local Sports Journal

Mona Shores added a pair of big-name coaches to their staff with the hiring of Gene Gifford as the boys basketball coach and Dan Potts as the volleyball coach.

Gifford takes over for Nick Bronsema, who resigned following the completion of the boys basketball season and Potts takes over for Kyle Kurant, who resigned after 20 years at the helm of the Sailor volleyball program.

Both selections need Board of Education approval, which is coming up on Monday night.

Gifford, currently the athletic director at Oakridge High School, returns to the high school basketball coaching ranks for the first time since 1981 when he coached at Ravenna. Since then, Gifford coached the men’s team at Muskegon Community College (1981-2007) and at Olivet College from 2007-2012.

Potts coached the Fruitport volleyball team to three state runners-up finishes in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and an MHSAA state title in 2005. He was the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2005.

“Our student-athletes will be impacted immediately by both of these veteran coaches,” Mona Shores athletic director Ryan Portenga said.