By JASON GORDON
The man picked to lead the Hays boys basketball program into the future certainly has a solid leadership pedigree.
Richard McMullen was called sergeant before he was addressed as coach, serving for more than six years in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from the University of Texas-Tyler, including a seven-month tour in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1990.
He then spent six years at Big Sandy High and another five at DeKalb High, both Class 2A schools, where he amassed a 217-63 overall record as head coach.
After that, McMullen relocated to Central Texas as an assistant coach and helped guide Pflugerville Connally to the Class 4A UIL state tournament during his first season at the school in 2006.
“We had a lot of interest in the job, and it came down to four finalists,” Hays athletic director Bob Shelton said. “We really feel Coach McMullen is a good choice and will fit in well here. We have a lot of confidence that he will build a good program.”
The Hays varsity boys basketball coaching job opened up when former coach Kris Fuller decided to take the same position at Round Rock Cedar Ridge, which will open in the fall.
McMullen will have the luxury of walking into a Hays program that will have every varsity starter returning next season. The Rebels won five of their final eight games after starting the season 2-14.
“With all five starters coming back, it’s going to be exciting to see what we can accomplish in the next few years,” McMullen said. “I’m really looking forward to the new opportunity and challenge.”
McMullen said his coaching philosophies are simple.
“With a small-school background, I base everything I do on the fundamentals of the game,” he said. “We’ll get back to basics. We’ll be a team of great shooters and passers, and we’ll make good decisions. I like to run an up-tempo offense depending on our athletes, and I like to push the defense all the way up the court. We’ll start out in man-to-man and adjust as the game goes on.”
McMullen added that he expects to implement his summer program at Hays as well.
“I usually like to coach the fifth-graders in summer and have a parent I can teach our system coach the sixth graders,” McMullen said. “The middle school coaches will coach the seventh and eighth graders in summer and of course run the same system we’re running at the high school. By the time they’re freshmen, the kids will be very familiar with what I do at the high school level.”
McMullen said he definitely knows about the success the Lady Rebel basketball program has enjoyed, with two trips to state since 2001.
“I’ve heard about the girls program here and that’s very exciting,” he said. “I think success builds confidence throughout the years. I’d love to bring the guys to that level at Hays. I hope we compliment each other and build the entire program in that aspect.”
McMullen won’t officially be voted in by the Hays CISD school board until its May meeting at the earliest, but one board member called the approval a “mere formality.”
Although he will finish out the school year at Pflugerville Connally, McMullen said he hopes to meet the players in the Hays basketball program after TAKS-testing week, which runs April 26-30.
“I’m looking forward to visiting with the players and the assistant coaches,” McMullen said. “It will be important to tell them about my coaching philosophies and to set a plan for the rest of the school year.”
