Windsor High School recently announced the hiring of veteran basketball coach Joe Passalacqua to lead the girls program, taking the reins from former coach Jeff Paul.
Passalacqua will be making his second tour of duty with the program, having led the Lady Jaguars from 2005-2010. A Healdsburg native and seasoned coaching veteran, he recently served as an assistant varsity football coach under Tom Kirkpatrick for a couple of seasons while also coaching CYO basketball.
He will be joined by assistant coach and former Jags standout Cara Watts.
The Lady Jaguars logged several outstanding seasons under Paul, who guided the team to yearly NCS playoff berths, including a pair of trips to the CIF Nor Cal state tournament during his tenure.
“I appreciate everything Jeff Paul has brought to Windsor High School basketball,” Athletic Director Jeff Hardie said in a statement this week. “We are excited to have Joe on our coaching staff as he returns to WHS to lead a senior-laden team to compete for an NBL title.”
No stranger to the high school hard-court, Passalacqua found he missed the game after stepping away seven years ago.
“When I stepped down (in 2010) it was for several reasons, including helping my mother who was sick, and devoting more time to my law practice and restaurant,” he said. “I’ve always loved coaching and knew after working with kids for the last three years in CYO that I’d like to get back to coaching high school.”
Passalacqua will have plenty to work with in his first season back with the Lady Jaguars, inheriting a team that is both talented and experienced. Windsor is expected to return its entire roster from last year’s 12-15 NCS playoff team, including a strong core of four-year varsity veterans.
Although he’ll look to adapt to the strengths of his players, Passalacqua figures to bring his familiar up-tempo style to the court next season.
“My philosophy is we’d like to run the floor and be a good transition team,” he said. “Defensively we’d like to press as much as possible.”
Summer Shootout tourney on tap
The Lady Jaguars will host the annual Summer Shootout Tournament on June 23-24. The tourney will feature a line-up of some 16 varsity and eight JV teams.
