Coach Carrico
Coach Chris Carrico, head of the girls basketball team, has been coaching at Meridian for the last 18 years. Over his long tenure he has seen many different types of teams, players’ and results from those players. One thing that has stayed the same is his coaching style.
“I like to think of myself as a player’s coach, I hold kids accountable, I have high expectations for athletes, but then I try to lead by example, too. I try to make it an environment where players aren’t afraid to make mistakes, but that players are holding themselves and their teammates accountable for their actions as well as their performance on the court,” Carrico said.
This culture has led to success in the past. Last season, the team made it all the way to the state championship, but unfortunately lost to a private school that many felt should not have been eligible to compete in the division. Carrico thinks that what’s past is past, and focusing on the future is the only way to approach the game.
“Each year, you set expectations for that team. I’ve been coaching at Meridian for 18 years, and every year you have to treat that team differently. You can’t look at previous years. You have to set expectations and goals for this year.”
With new players coming and old ones leaving each year, this is an important mindset to have when coaching high school basketball. Forget the past and live in the present, because that’s all that you can control.
Coach Smith
“Demanding, no nonsense, and player friendly.”
That is how Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Jim Smith describes himself. He is entering his fourth season coaching the boys team at Meridian, and they have seen lots of success during his tenure. After a shaky 2021-22 campaign––the Mustangs went 7-15––the team rebounded in their 2022-23 season, finishing the season with a very promising 16-8 record. This upward trend only continued into 2023–24, where they achieved a 22-5 overall record. They were 13-1 in regional play, good enough for first in the region. Clearly, Smith has this team in prime position to contend for years to come.
During practices, he leads a balanced session. “We try to focus on all aspects of the game; skill work, team offense, team defense. Depending on how we are doing, one might be emphasized more in a given practice,” Smith said. While other coaches may try to focus on specific parts of the game, Smith’s balanced approach is working well for the squad.
The team has many strengths, but Smith believes that depth and experience is their strongest attribute.
“We have six players on our roster who have started many varsity games,” said Smith. This experience translates into more level-headed play from starters, and the newer players on the team will have great examples of how to play and train.
Smith describes his approach to games as flexible and ready to make necessary changes, especially when the game isn’t going to plan.
“Each game is different, and you need to be ready to make adjustments.”
The team is in a great position to succeed this season, and a lot of this is because of Smith’s excellent coaching over the past few years.
