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01/30/2019 11:00 PMThere’s no question that Sam DeMaio has basketball in his blood. After all, Sam’s father Jeff DeMaio is a former high school basketball player who’s been coaching in the area for several years and is currently in his 10th season as head coach for the Guilford boys’ basketball team. Now, Sam is showing that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree as he’s displaying the same proactive approach as his dad as a member of the Indians’ coaching staff.
Sam played basketball at Sheehan High School and is currently a sophomore at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the beginning of last season, Sam pitched an idea to his father when he asked DeMaio if he could help him out as a coach during his semester breaks. DeMaio thought it was a great idea, and now Sam is in his second year as a volunteer assistant with Guilford boys’ hoops.
“It was hard not to grow up in my house without sports. I knew I wanted to get into coaching since I was young, and it was a perfect fit for me,” says Sam, who’s majoring in sociology and minoring in philosophy at Holy Cross. “When I graduated, I didn’t want to end my association with Guilford basketball. I talked about the idea of trying out coaching here with my dad. I know the guys well, and the atmosphere here is great. The climate and community here are amazing.”
Sam knows that the basketball court can be a humbling environment in which players make mistakes every day. However, instead of viewing those miscues as a hindrance, Sam believes they are an essential component of a player’s progression on the floor.
“My goal is to have these kids be respectful and humble, take the mistakes and turn them into strengths, and get one percent better every day,” Sam says. “Being positive with these kids is extremely imperative. When you build in their successes, you build a relationship with them. I love seeing the passion the kids put forth and helping them.”
Sam has found that he has quite a passion for mentoring through athletics. Sam likes seeing Guilford’s players learn a multitude of life lessons by virtue of their hard work and dedication to the game.
“I love seeing them getting better and giving it their all. That allows me to see they care as much as we do,” Sam says. “As a young coach, I love seeing that fire and passion. The greatest joy in coaching is seeing them grow as people and players.”
Coach DeMaio says that Sam is doing a great job of relating to the Indians’ players. He adds that his son always brings an optimistic mindset to the squad.
“Sam is in his second year of volunteering with us, and we are fortunate to have him. He sees the game very well, and he has developed a great chemistry with the guys,” DeMaio says. “Although close in age with our players, it works, because he is not that far removed from the game. And he also understands how we want things to run in this program. He brings great energy and a great sense of positivity to our guys.”
Sam feels grateful to have begun what he hopes will be a long and prosperous career as a coach. Sam says his father taught him about the power of being positive, and that’s an aspect they are both emphasizing in their respective coaching roles in Guilford.
“Coaching with my dad couldn’t have gone better. When I am home, we live in the gym and start talking about offense and defense, and it’s never boring,” says Sam. “He keeps it fun and positive, and he’s instilled the positive mindset in me. It’s all about positivity, and he’s the most positive person I’ve been around. Learning from him helps me develop more.”