Ganado coach brings program to respectability

Posted by Oree Foster | Apr 13, 2017 | Basketball |

SHIPROCK

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero
Ganado Hornets Coach of the Year Bob Wolk, middle, poses with former Miss Navajo and guest speaker Radmilla Cody, right, and Navajo Times Publisher Tom Arviso Jr. at the Navajo Times All-Star awards Monday in Shiprock. Wolk resigned as the head boys basketball coach at Ganado High School.

In one year, Ganado head coach Bob Wolk turned the boys basketball program into one of the best 3A teams in the state of Arizona.

The Hornets beat all odds. The Hornets won the Rehoboth Invitational tournament. The Hornets finished fifth in the prestigious White Mountain Invitational tournament, hosted by Blue Ridge High School.

By mid-season the Hornets were for real. They surpassed expectations and became a state championship contender.

Under Wolk’s guidance, the Hornets were ranked the No. 1 team in 3A for the majority of the season. Wolk’s “franchise” player, Jamaal Coleman, dominated inside the paint. Michael Yellowhair, Justin Curley, Daryl Lincoln and Timothy Benally made things happen from the outside, canning key baskets.

“Prior to the season, I watched tape and I saw Jamaal playing outside the paint,” Wolk said. “He was playing like a shooting guard. I thought why is this 6-foot-8 player playing at a guard position. I moved Jamaal inside the paint and he responded. His teammates responded and we won.”

Wolk guided the Hornets into the state playoffs, posting victories over Page and Tucson Sabino. The Hornets advanced to the state semifinals before Winslow stopped Ganado.
For an exceptional season, Wolk was selected as one of the Navajo Times coaches of the year.

“With the team I coached, none of the players experienced a winning season before this year,” he said. “I owe the honor to the players and coaching staff. The players responded with what I wanted them to do. The coaching staff helped me work with the players.”