Grady hires Langan as boys basketball coach

CLOVIS — Jonathan Langan was surprised to find out he was a frontrunner for the Grady boys basketball coaching position, largely because he hadn’t applied.

But somebody put in a good word for him, and a good interview led to his first head coaching position. The school announced the hire Wednesday.

Langan, a 2010 graduate of Clovis High School, will also be a history teacher at Grady.

“To be honest, that’s what I went to school for,” Langan said. “My major was history, my minor was coaching. I’d always enjoyed my time playing, and had great coaches on the way. I’ve always been around the game of basketball, and knew that was something I was passionate about and wanted to pursue.”

He has been a coach at Yucca Middle School since 2011, covering basketball, football and track over the time. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 2016, and just finished his first year as a teacher.

Langan first looked for a head coaching position this year, and felt confident in his abilities to run a program after the Chaps team he coached won the Border Conference tournament. He hadn’t applied at Grady, but fellow Wildcats alum and Elida girls basketball coach Jaden Isler told Grady administrators Langan would be a good fit.

High School Principal Michelle Edwards said Langan was impressive due to his enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and win.

“I think he’ll be a very positive asset to our school,” said Edwards, who has served as high school principal for two years following two years as elementary principal. “We’re extremely excited to have him.”

Langan hasn’t identified what his trademark as a coach is, but feels he’ll be fine if he emulates his former coaches.

“Coach (J.D.) Isler, I learned his stuff,” Langan said. “That’s something I’d like to do. If we can run the ball up and down the court, that’s something we’ll want to do. If we need to slow it down, then we will do that as well. Coach (Scott) Robinson has done a fantastic job with the discipline of his players, and I want to be like that, where they respect me and can come to me when they need my help.”

The Bronchos lose three seniors from a club that went 13-17 and fell to eventual Class 1A runnerup Springer in the opening round of the state tournament last season.

“As far as the personnel, I’ve heard they’re really talented,” Langan said. “I don’t know any of them personally, but from what I hear we have the opportunity to be competitive.”