When Eric Padget stepped away from coaching the Collins-Maxwell/Baxter girls basketball team in 2013, he did so because he wanted to be able to watch his son Brendyn’s activities as he came through the CMB system.
Four years later, Brendyn is now in high school and coach Padget has returned to the bench. Pending board approval later this month, Padget has been named the next girls basketball coach at CMB.
“It was a good time to step down before because my son was coming into junior high,” Padget said. “I always envisioned coming back. I didn’t have a timeline but instead just waited until the position came open.
“Truth be told, I missed it terribly. I missed coaching. I missed the relationship I had with the team.”
Padget guided the Raider girls basketball program for six years, from 2007-2013. Jamie Zabel coached the Raiders the past three seasons.
“I am pumped to be back,” Padget said. “I am getting a little bit of a late start, but we have had some open gyms, and we are playing in the Drake team camp this summer.”
The Raiders went 7-17, 5-17 and 2-19 in Zabel’s three seasons as coach. Padget directed the Raiders to a 9-15 season in 2013. Before that, Padget also won nine games in 2012 and eight games in 2009.
Padget should have a good bunch of talent to work with. Junior Brianda Bane will be one of the best players in the Heart of Iowa Conference next year, and CMB also welcomes back seniors Kathleen Baldwin and Mikayla Eslinger, juniors Sydney Ziesman and Sailor HInegardner and sophomore Josie Wierson.
Last year’s CMB freshman team had a very successful season, and the incoming freshman class also were very good.
The future of CMB athletics is unknown at this point, but Padget welcomes the idea of helping the student-athletes through a difficult time.
“I have been a big advocate of keeping CMB alive,” Padget said. “I see the situation next year potentially being very difficult on our kids. I saw it as an opportunity to put my money where my mouth is, be a leader and help the kids get through it.”