Fired ALA Gilbert North basketball coach Dave Novak joins PHH Prep national team with all-state son
Dave Novak quickly pivoted to find a landing spot after American Leadership Gilbert North fired the boys' basketball coach last Friday.
Novak has been hired by Phhoenix Prep to be associate head coach under Barry Jones on the national team.
Dylan Novak, Dave's son, who led the Eagles in scoring making All-State by The Arizona Republic the past two seasons, is joining his dad to play for the national prep team.
"They've been part of the family since the Powerhouse Hoops days," said John Ortega, co-founder and recruiting coordinator of PHH Prep. "It's been fun to watch Dylan develop into one of the state's best players over the last few years and can't wait to put him on a national stage to compete against players from around the country."
Ortega calls Dave Novak "an incredible basketball mind that transformed ALA (Gilbert) North from a doormat to a dominant team in Arizona."
"He understands player development and gets his players to buy in and be bigger than themselves," Ortega added.
Novak said he was told last week that the ALA Gilbert North administration let him know they were going in a different direction with the basketball program, even though he led the 4A Eagles into the 32-team Open Division state tournament each of the past two seasons.
Novak said ALA Gilbert North offered to keep him as assistant athletic director, but Novak declined.
A spokesperson from Charter One, which oversees the American Leadership Academy schools, did not return a message from The Republic asking why Novak was let go.
Novak's teams went 23-6 this past season and 27-3 in the 2022-23 season when they were the No. 2 overall seed in the Open.
Dylan Novak, a 6-foot-1 point guard, averaged 21.6 points his sophomore season and 21.3 this past season for his father. During his freshman year, Dylan averaged 16.9 points on varsity when the program was in its last year in 3A and won 20 games.
PHH Prep was part of Overtime Elite's league last season. It is a professional league for 16- to 20-year-olds based in Atlanta that was launched in 2021.
"I'm super excited to join a nationally recognized program in PHH Prep," Dave Novak said. "I was really impressed with John Ortega and what he's built over the past six years. Ortega is a winner. He recognizes talent and knows how to get things done.
"We've known each other since day one of Powerhouse Hoops as I coached there for a couple of years, before taking over the failing ALA program- and turning it into one of the best teams in Arizona. Now it's time to return to PHH Prep and allow Dylan's game and personality to shine on the national stage."
Dave said his younger son, Hudson, will be starting out there, calling him a high IQ player with tremendous shooting ability.
"Our entire family is excited to be part of a program where we are appreciated for who we are and where winning is a top priority," Dave Novak said. "All glory to God."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fired ALA GN coach Dave Novak joins PHH Prep with all-state son
