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Kiper adjusting well to coaching girls at Myrtle Beach
By David Shelton
Staff Writer
Myrtle Beach – Having been a coach of boys since his career began, Brian Kiper never imagined he would ever coach girls in any sport. Funny how things work out.
Kiper, who had coached golf, baseball and basketball in his brief coaching career, took over as the girl’s basketball coach at Myrtle Beach High School prior to the 2008-09 season when coach Mickey Hunter left for a job at Wando High.
Hunter had just led the Lady Seahawks to the class AAA state finals and Kiper was completing his first season as a volunteer assistant coach for the state championship boy’s team. At the urging of boy’s coach DeAndre Scott, Kiper reluctantly applied for the opening. He got the job, and as they say, the rest is history.
Kiper led Myrtle Beach to a 25-3 record in his first season and topped that last winter by guiding the Lady Seahawks to the Class AAA state championship. Now, Kiper says he may never go back to coaching boys.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time,” said Kiper, who hails from Ohio. “When we moved here I had no intention of coaching right away. It was Mickey who encouraged me to go out and help the boy’s program and then I end up coaching his team when he left. I never imagined myself coaching girls and really had no interest in it. But, a coach is a coach and I figured it would be a new experience that could help me grow as a coach.
“I love doing what I am doing right now. I honestly can’t see myself going back to coaching boys. Certainly the success that we’ve had has helped me embrace this but girls are more coachable and it has been a great experience so far.”
Kiper began coaching while still a student at Kent State University, commuting an hour to coach freshman boys basketball during his junior year. By the time he graduated, Kiper was the head golf coach, the junior varsity basketball coach and the freshman team baseball coach.
Kiper became the head varsity coach at Clear Fork High School in Ohio in 2002 and spent five years with the program. His wife, Jennifer, took at job with the City of North Myrtle Beach and the family moved South.
Kiper is quick to point out that the program he inherited from Hunter was strong and competitive. He has tried to do what any good coach would do – take advantage of his talent and personnel.
“The program was strong when I got here and we have some outstanding players here,” said the coach. “My goal is to continue to build the program, make it better where I can, and continue to give these girls a chance to be successful at this level and beyond.”
With the state’s top junior guard, Khadijah Sessions, leading the way, Myrtle Beach will likely open next season as the top-ranked AAA team in the state.
“We lost some talented girls and we have some work to do but having Khadijah back will make things easier,” said the coach. “She is a fantastic player and a tremendous leader in this program.”
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