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12/16/2009 11:00 PMWith the excitement of basketball season Tim grew up in Hamden, graduating from Hamden High School in 1993 after playing basketball for four years and tennis for two. The senior captain helped his team to a conference championship that season and was recruited to Elmira College in New York to continue his career, which he did for two and a half years.
already upon him, this season brings a whole new enthusiasm for Tim Tredwell. After seven years of coaching, Tim is beginning his first varsity coaching season at Daniel Hand High School. The John Winthrop Middle School physical education and health teacher and former high school and college player brings his own knowledge and love for the game to the girls' team at Hand, which began its season on Dec. 11 with a win over East Haven.
Tim grew up in Hamden, graduating from Hamden High School in 1993 after playing basketball for four years and tennis for two. The senior captain helped his team to a conference championship that season and was recruited to Elmira College in New York to continue his career, which he did for two and a half years."I was lucky enough to get recruited by several schools," says Tim. "It was a lot of fun to go through that and play and I played for over two years before just getting burnt out. I wasn't having fun anymore and I knew I had to focus on school. I also knew I'd never go pro so it was time to let go."
"I was lucky enough to get recruited by several schools," says Tim. "It was a lot of fun to go through that and play and I played for over two years before just getting burnt out. I wasn't having fun anymore and I knew I had to focus on school. I also knew I'd never go pro so it was time to let go."Tim then transferred to Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned a degree in journalism and after graduation, worked at ESPN in the research department before going back to SCSU to get his teaching certification in physical education and health. In 2002, he became the physical education and health teacher at John Winthrop Middle School in Deep River where he has been teaching ever since.
Tim then transferred to Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned a degree in journalism and after graduation, worked at ESPN in the research department before going back to SCSU to get his teaching certification in physical education and health. In 2002, he became the physical education and health teacher at John Winthrop Middle School in Deep River where he has been teaching ever since.Besides coaching odd jobs at camps and clinics while in college, Tim got his first official coaching job in 2003 as the junior varsity boys' basketball coach at North Branford High School, coaching there for four years.
Besides coaching odd jobs at camps and clinics while in college, Tim got his first official coaching job in 2003 as the junior varsity boys' basketball coach at North Branford High School, coaching there for four years."Coaching wasn't really my goal at first," says Tim. "A lot of people go into teaching because it fits right in with coaching, but that wasn't my reason-I never got my teaching degree with coaching in mind. But once I got this job at North Branford, I was hooked and having a blast. When you see the kids you coach and work with doing what you say and seeing it work, it's instant gratification and a really fun feeling. We did well those four years, taking over the program and improving our record."
"Coaching wasn't really my goal at first," says Tim. "A lot of people go into teaching because it fits right in with coaching, but that wasn't my reason-I never got my teaching degree with coaching in mind. But once I got this job at North Branford, I was hooked and having a blast. When you see the kids you coach and work with doing what you say and seeing it work, it's instant gratification and a really fun feeling. We did well those four years, taking over the program and improving our record."In 2007, Tim moved to the freshman boys' basketball coaching position at Valley Regional High School for one year and became the junior varsity coach midseason after the varsity coach resigned. It was that season he said he got it in his head that he might want to become a varsity coach.
In 2007, Tim moved to the freshman boys' basketball coaching position at Valley Regional High School for one year and became the junior varsity coach midseason after the varsity coach resigned. It was that season he said he got it in his head that he might want to become a varsity coach."I never really thought I'd want the responsibility of being the varsity coach until that season when I almost had a shot at becoming Valley's varsity coach," says Tim. "I got it in my head that it might be something I'd like to do, but we had my daughter in August of 2008 and that season just wasn't a good time to fulfill that desire."
"I never really thought I'd want the responsibility of being the varsity coach until that season when I almost had a shot at becoming Valley's varsity coach," says Tim. "I got it in my head that it might be something I'd like to do, but we had my daughter in August of 2008 and that season just wasn't a good time to fulfill that desire."Tim was asked by varsity Coach Frank Rossi (whom he had coached with previously in North Branford) to become the assistant boys' varsity coach at Hand in 2008 to allow him to be part of the basketball community while still being able to spend time with his family.
Tim was asked by varsity Coach Frank Rossi (whom he had coached with previously in North Branford) to become the assistant boys' varsity coach at Hand in 2008 to allow him to be part of the basketball community while still being able to spend time with his family."I wasn't sure I wanted to do that, but Frank asked me to help out with tryouts and after I did that, I was sucked back in," says Tim. "We had a phenomenal group of kids last year and it was hard for me to get away from coaching and I ended up being there with the team as much as anyone on the staff."
"I wasn't sure I wanted to do that, but Frank asked me to help out with tryouts and after I did that, I was sucked back in," says Tim. "We had a phenomenal group of kids last year and it was hard for me to get away from coaching and I ended up being there with the team as much as anyone on the staff."Tim's dream of becoming a varsity coach finally came true this winter after he got the varsity coaching position for the Hand girls' team six weeks before tryouts. The team had its first game on Dec. 11 and with a season-opening win, Tim is optimistic about his team this season.
Tim's dream of becoming a varsity coach finally came true this winter after he got the varsity coaching position for the Hand girls' team six weeks before tryouts. The team had its first game on Dec. 11 and with a season-opening win, Tim is optimistic about his team this season."Some coaches might miss the interaction between the kids, what will make each individual player work, and knowing your kids well enough to know how they will respond," says Tim. "But I think a team is better because of all of that and that's kind of what we've done the first couple of weeks. They have to learn to trust me as I'm the third guy in three years for this senior and junior group. They're playing very hard, responding well, and we have a lot of kids who are searching for their role but are anxious to show they can do this. It's a learning process for them and myself to find how we all fit in this together."
"Some coaches might miss the interaction between the kids, what will make each individual player work, and knowing your kids well enough to know how they will respond," says Tim. "But I think a team is better because of all of that and that's kind of what we've done the first couple of weeks. They have to learn to trust me as I'm the third guy in three years for this senior and junior group. They're playing very hard, responding well, and we have a lot of kids who are searching for their role but are anxious to show they can do this. It's a learning process for them and myself to find how we all fit in this together."Before Tim got this varsity coaching position, he had played regularly on a men's league since college but finds it impossible to do now with his new responsibility.
Before Tim got this varsity coaching position, he had played regularly on a men's league since college but finds it impossible to do now with his new responsibility."As much as I'd like to keep going, at 34, my brain still tries to tell me that I'm 19, but my body disagrees," says Tim. "I'd love to be able to still get out and play pickup basketball, but until I can get my brain and body to agree, it'll be put on hold.
"As much as I'd like to keep going, at 34, my brain still tries to tell me that I'm 19, but my body disagrees," says Tim. "I'd love to be able to still get out and play pickup basketball, but until I can get my brain and body to agree, it'll be put on hold. "I'd like to thank my wife, Kate, for putting up with me, and my daughter, Emily-the fact that she enjoys seeing me come home every night still is really wonderful," he adds. " I want to thank all my friends who are such good guys, with good knowledge of basketball, who have been helpful to my coaching and are my sounding board. I'd like to thank Jacqui Garner, Frank Rossi for helping me out this year, and Craig Semple for taking a shot with me and the staff at Hand. I'm very lucky to interact with a number of great people, to be where I am, and have the opportunities that I have."
"I'd like to thank my wife, Kate, for putting up with me, and my daughter, Emily-the fact that she enjoys seeing me come home every night still is really wonderful," he adds. " I want to thank all my friends who are such good guys, with good knowledge of basketball, who have been helpful to my coaching and are my sounding board. I'd like to thank Jacqui Garner, Frank Rossi for helping me out this year, and Craig Semple for taking a shot with me and the staff at Hand. I'm very lucky to interact with a number of great people, to be where I am, and have the opportunities that I have."