O’Bannon to lead Henderson International’s boys

Henderson International’s boys basketball team turned some heads last season by going 9-1 in the Class 1A Southern League with eight freshmen on its roster.

The Wolverines are likely to garner more attention next season simply because of their new head coach.

Henderson International hired former UCLA star Ed O’Bannon as its boys coach Wednesday.

“Really, I wanted to get back into the game,” O’Bannon said. “I wanted to give back and teach young men what I learned.”

O’Bannon, 36, said he’ll remain working in marketing and sales for a Henderson auto dealer.

The Henderson resident said the job presented opportunities to give back to the game and learn while coaching. He has worked as an assistant at Green Valley, but this will be his first head coaching job.

“For one, it’s real close to the house,” O’Bannon said of Henderson International. “Two, I think it’s a good opportunity. They want to learn.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the game and learning. That’s why I’m in it.”

O’Bannon will replace Greg Stephens, who resigned after one season, Wolverines athletic director Mike Ostrowski said.

O’Bannon will inherit a team that went 15-14 last season, including the 9-1 mark in league play. Henderson International reached the semifinals of the 1A Southern League playoffs, falling one win short of a spot in the state tournament.

“They had a pretty good season last year,” O’Bannon said. “I just want the opportunity to learn and help them learn.”

O’Bannon led UCLA to the national championship in 1995, tallying 30 points and 17 rebounds in the Bruins’ 89-78 win over Arkansas in the title game.

He was chosen ninth overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 1995 NBA Draft, and spent two seasons in the NBA with the Nets and Dallas Mavericks.

O’Bannon also played professionally in Argentina, Greece, Italy, Poland and Spain.

“To get a guy like Ed O’Bannon involved is tremendous,” Ostrowski said. “We’re unbelievably excited.”

O’Bannon said he expressed interest in the job after hearing of the vacancy from a friend.

Ostrowski said he felt O’Bannon was excited as soon as they met approximately two weeks ago to discuss the position.

“As soon as we started talking, his face lit up,” Ostrowski said. “He gives out that persona. The first thing he said to me was, he was excited to make an impact on kids’ lives.”