Brandon Roy coached a 3-win high school basketball team to Seattle city champions

Brandon Roy’s NBA career ended far too soon. A host of injuries derailed his ascension into legendary status, and after six All-Star appearances it was over. A lot of athletes in the same position find themselves struggling to cope with life outside of the spotlight, but Roy is flourishing in his new role as a high school basketball coach in Seattle.

The former Blazers star interviewed for a position at Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School. The school had struggled to a 3-18 record the previous season and needed to shake things up. For Roy, it was an opportunity to return to the game he loved.

Turning around the team didn’t take long. Roy’s basketball acumen, paired with his stardom suddenly made the high school a hotbed for recruiting players. Seven transfers happened in the first few months of Roy’s tenure as coach, including Michael Porter Jr., the No. 1 ranked prospect in the nation and his younger brothers — both of whom have committed to the University of Washington, where Roy was a star. The links between the Nathan Hale program and Washington continue, with the players’ father accepting a job as an assistant coach with the school.

Stacking the team with promising players helped, but ultimately it required Roy to be a good coach as well. The team began the season 22-0, playing good competition in the Seattle area. Nathan Hale was succeeding on its own merits, not benefiting from an easy schedule.

The school didn’t just have an incredible regular season, they won the Seattle city championship in Roy’s first season as coach, beating Roy’s alma mater in the final. He spoke to The Oregonian about the achievement.

“Going 22-0 in your first 22 games is a special feeling,” Roy said. “I wanted to win the city championship and I’m just extremely proud of our guys. The team’s been great to me. I’m a happy man.”

Roy’s first step into coaching was more successful than anyone could have imagined. Now we wait to see what the future brings for him. It will be exciting to watch, and few guys deserve more success after basketball than he does.

h/t Yahoo Sports