New Coach at Hunter High

By Greg James | [email protected]

Hunter High School administration announced the hiring of a new girls basketball coach shortly before the close of the school year. Taking over the position will be Cameron Gardner.

“I am excited and optimistic. It will certainly be a new challenge to come to a new school and begin to build a program. It will be exciting to see what type of players we have and what we can build upon for the future,” Gardner said.

Gardner comes to Hunter from Pinnacle High School in Price, Utah. He was boys baseball coach, basketball coach and boys and girls golf coach at the 1A charter school. In 2015 Pinnacle finished 14-10 and beat Dugway in the first round of the state playoffs before falling out in the second round.

The Wolverines hosted a skills camp the week after graduation and they traveled to UVU for a team camp June 3-4.

“I think we have had a lot of girls that could not make it early this summer. I know that with me being new to the school and getting to know the girls. I will take time for everyone to start to recognize my face,” Gardner said.

Gardner is a graduate of Box Elder high school in Brigham City, Utah. He averaged 12.2 points per game his senior season for the Bees. He was recruited and continued to play basketball after high school at Hartnel College in Salinas, Calif. After one season he transferred to Utah State and made the team as a walk-on red shirt.

As a member of the scout team at Utah State he was expected to learn the opponents play books and help train the Aggies top players on how to defend their opponents. The hard work was rarely rewarded with playing time.

Gardner became the men’s team manager and graduated from Utah State with his bachelors degree in Physical Education teaching.

His collegiate experience has helped him learn to diagnose the opponents and prepare his team to play their best.

“I like to adapt to what the girls do best. I expect them to give 110 percent all of the time. I expect the girls to give everything they have. In the half court I like the team to run sets and get good shots. I want to see them run whenever they can. I am excited to teach the girls and have them pick it up this first season.” Gardner said.

He was disappointed in the turn out to the first team work outs, but understands the new coaching staff will take time to make an impact.

“I have seen the last few weeks we need to work on the commitment level. I want every effort I can get from these girls. It is going to be fun to see what fun we can have.” He said.

Gardner has been married five years to Dailee, has a three year old daughter, Layla and one year old son, Claysen. His wife just secured a job in Farmington at the city’s new recreation center as the gym coordinator.