Zvara Named Head Girls Basketball Coach for Avon Lake

s girls basketball team will have a new face next season. Dave Zvara was named as the new varsity head coach June 20.

Zvara replaces Frank Coughlin, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge to the Shoregals. He has coached and done so successfully, both boys and girls basketball at Amherst Steele High School, Elyria and also Lorain County Community College since 1979.

Asked what attracted him to the Shoregal job, Zvara, who teaches and has spent most of his life in the Amherst area, was quick with his answer.

"I think it is a mirror of Amherst; same type of kids, parents and values," he said. "The ability is there for the sports, and you are coming into a situation with excellent facilities, good backing, outstanding support and just good kids both in the classroom and athletically."

 Zvara was introduced to parents and players on Monday night and was impressed with the amount of people who showed up.

 "I was really impressed with the amount of people who showed up," Zvara said. "I told the girls and parents when I met with them that I was excited to take the job, and that one of my goals was to get the girls excited about playing and also getting the people excited to come out to see us play."

 The Shoregals went 9-12 last season, including 7-7 in the SWC.

 "I'm not sure what they ran last year, but I'm going to do what I believe is good for the kids and the ability I have, and also use some of my philosophies," Zvara said. " I'm a competitor, even if I play a board game, my wife sometimes hates that because I'll throw cards. But I like the competitiveness and energy of trying to beat someone."

 As for his philosophies, Zvara talked about a few of them.

 "I work on offense and defensive fundamentals which is a man-to-man thing, but I'm also not afraid to change things up defensively with the ball," he said. " So I'm going to start from scratch and then use what is the best for us and find out what works well. I love the strategy, the Xs and Os of it, the game plan and also the fact you have to make changes on the go. It's also fun to go against the other coaches."

Zvara will maintain his teaching and assistant athletic director slot at Amherst and considering the rivalry between Avon Lake and Amherst, jokes that he is already hearing things from people.

"I've been at Amherst for most of my life, so I'm sure some people aren't going to be happy with me," he said. "But I felt it was an opportunity in my career to do something I enjoy and love and I hope everyone understands that. I've already heard from one guy that when we play Amherst they are going to let everyone into the gym for free."