Liley is new NHS basketball coach

Coaching his brother’s AAU basketball team launched Bill Liley’s coaching career. Liley, 41, brings 18 years of high school basketball coaching experience to Newton as Newton High’s new boys basketball head coach.

“I played some in high school, but decided to concentrate on my academics the last couple of years so I could go to the University of Washington. I was a musician, and I wanted to pursue my academics,” Liley said in a telephone interview this week with the Newton Daily News.

“After graduating from high school, I coached my brother’s AAU team and had a great deal of success. Coaching that team I learned the game because I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with coaches at the University of Washington where I was working while going to school there,” Liley said.

Liley is coming to Newton from Seattle, Wash., where he has spent the past four years as head coach at Eastside Catholic High School. He said he had two connections with Iowa — Newton High’s Athletic Director Scott Garvis and Drake University’s head men’s basketball coach Ray Giacoletti.

“Scott was my athletic director at Eastside Catholic. He hired me as the head coach there,” Liley said. “I trust him when he offers me an opportunity to coach. I was also fortunate to work with Ray Giacoletti while I was working in the University of Washington’s athletic department.”

Liley guided Eastside Catholic to its first winning season in more than a decade and a playoff appearance in his first year there. In his four-year tenure, Eastside Catholic went 78-35 and finished second and third in back-to-back seasons at the Class 3A state basketball tournament in 2014 and 2015.

“This is a great fit for Newton athletics,” Garvis said. “Coach Liley shares the Newton Cardinal philosophy, building positive relationships, academic excellence and servant leadership. We wanted to hire coaches who share our vision to sustain competitive programs.”

Garvis said the district had a number of quality applicants following former NHS head coach Nick Wilkins’ resignation to accept the head coaching position at North Polk. Garvis said Liley has the experience and passion to develop the NHS basketball program.

“Coach Liley had been very successful during his career, and we are excited he has accepted the head coaching position,” Garvis said.

Prior to Eastside Catholic, Liley spent four years at the helm of King’s High School (Washington). He led the Knights to four state tournament appearances in four years as head coach, placing second, fifth and sixth, while going 75-35 overall.

All of his coaching experience since graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor of science in human resource management and services, has been in his home state of Washington. He was the Metro League Coach of the Year in 2014. At the end of the 2015 season, he coached the WIBCA 3A All-State team and coached Team Washington for the Northwest Shootout in Portland, Ore.

“I was at a point in my career I was ready for a new challenge. I also want to start working on my masters degree in athletic administration,” Liley said. “I’ve been very blessed to have success in my career as a coach. I started as a head coach when I was 21.”

Liley said when he began at Eastside Catholic, “My expectations are always going to be unreasonable. My players are adjusting to that. This team will be a playoff team this season. We will adjust our goals after we qualify for postseason play.”

Liley said he does set high expectations for his teams and himself as a coach. He said there’s nothing wrong with setting a high standard to reach for every day in practice and in every game.

“I had the opportunity to visit Iowa in June. I met with most of the returning players for Newton and the coaching staff. They’re a great bunch of kids and hard working. I’m really excited to be coming into the program and the opportunity to help build a successful team at Newton High School,” Liley said. “They have a strong tradition there and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

Liley comes out of a tough Seattle-area Metro League, which he described as one of the top leagues on the West Coast. He said his style of coaching will translate well in the Iowa.

“The Little Hawkeye Conference has great coaches and players in it. I know it is one of the better leagues in the area and you have to be ready to play every game,” Liley said. “Man-to-man defense and a motion offense are part of my coaching style. I believe those will work anywhere.”

Liley said he is concerned in helping each player develop skills as he grows as a person. He said he strives to have each player gain an understanding of how to play basketball and compete the right way.

Liley had six Eastside Catholic players sign with collegiate programs in his four years. Two of those signed with NCAA Division I programs.

“I’ve not always had the greatest talent on teams, but getting kids to work hard and play hard as a team is important. Sometimes teams with less talent can simply outwork more talented teams and win games,” Liley said. “The sky’s the limit for my teams. I’m not allowing anyone to put a ceiling on what we can do because I believe in my players.”

Liley said he will continue his tradition of being connected with the youth basketball programs in the community. He said it was important to have a connection between the younger players and the high school players.

“We want those youngsters to come to our games and be a part of the program right off the bat,” Liley said.

Liley said he will be in Newton next week meeting with players and parents.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535
or jsheets@newtondailynews.com