With the departure of long-time head coach, Matt Gordon, Second-year coach Duane Eason looks to keep a rich-basketball culture alive. It goes without saying that Phoenix College’s Basketball culture, and presence in the ACCAC, was felt year-in and year-out under Gordon’s reign. Nevertheless, we remain in good hands with a former two-star College Athlete and seasoned-Head Coach on the East and West Coasts.
It was humble beginnings for Coach Eason, who began his coaching career at a small start-up school, Christ the King Prep, in 2011. In his two and a half year stay at Christ the King, Eason took the charter school from a “club team,” to a contender in the NJSIAA. He also brought in nine, highly-touted freshmen; all ranked in New Jersey for Basketball. Following his departure in 2014, Eason had much of the same story with American History High School. In three years, he helped propel the charter school into a tournament threat in the NJSIAA. The Bald Eagles finished the season with a 14-15 record; and advanced to the fourth round of the 2015 NJSIAA Tournament, losing to eventual second-place finishers, University. The following season, the Bald Eagles’ record only improved, increasing to 17-11 overall. Eventually losing in the Sectional Semifinals to University.
One spring morning, the call came in from Matt Gordon. He needed “coaching assistance” during the second half of his 2015-16 season. Eason was warmly-welcomed to Gordon’s winning culture; a team that was wrapping up their 4th straight ACCAC Regular Season title. Eason got his first feel of a “winning culture,” as he put it.
His short-tenure as an assistant landed him as Head Coach of Mountain Pointe High School’s varsity program. After getting his feet wet in the college-circuit, Eason was ready to “breed a winner.” Mountain Pointe, although coming off a sub-par season and the retirement of long-time varsity coach Hosea Graham, the Pride was stacked with talent. In his lone-season, Eason led The Pride to a 26-4 record, and lined themselves up in the championship game, as a #7 seed against #2 Pinnacle High School: losing 77-60.
