Westview has found their new head basketball coach inside the NECC. Ed Bentley, who coached at Angola until midway through this past season, was chosen as the new Warriors coach on Thursday night.
Bentley is replacing Rob Yoder, who resigned after 17 years with the program.
“From coaching against them, they already have a sense of toughness about them; a sense of absolute desire to win but to do it the right way,” Bentley said of the Westview program. “That excites me. I think it is a perfect fit that they don’t mind playing defense and they don’t mind sharing the ball. It is a great fit, I am exited about the tradition they have. A lot of coaches may take that and it might be pressure to them, but I believe we can add to it.”
Bentley went 120-67 in the eight seasons with Angola, including a 10-5 mark in the 2019-20 season before his abrupt resignation in February. Under Bentley’s lead, Angola won Sectional titles in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Bentley’s best season game in 2016 when the team went 25-3.
“Early on when we were rebuilding Angola, Rob [Yoder] was a mentor for me and I learned a lot about their program over the years. It was kind of a marker where we wanted Angola to get,” Bentley said. “The consistency and the winning and expectations to win; they played a huge roll.”
Bentley served as the Associate Head Coach at Trine University for seven years before his time at Angola.
Westview noted the hire in a release on Thursday night:
“He brings a strong record of leadership and winning to Westview,” the statement said. “Westview has a long tradition of basketball success and the administration hopes to continue to build on that tradition with Mr. Bentley.”
The school board also approved Bentley as a special education teacher at the school.
Westview won a share of the NECC last season and the 2020-2021 season will have 10 returning letterman. However, due to COVID-19, Bentley notes it isn’t ideal that he can’t go out and coach them in shootouts in June when high school teams normally get the chance to play together over the summer.
“You have ten lettermen coming back, your job is not mess it up too bad,” Bentley said. “From coaching against them, I do know a lot about them and I believe they know a lot about me. It just means there are experienced kids who – a big majority of them – have been though battles, played in big games.”
Bentley plans on going in on Monday to collect some phone numbers and plan Zoom calls or social distancing meetings as a group and with individuals.
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