New White Deer boys basketball coach Kade Kittley ready to get to work
In this part of Texas, Kade Kittley is used to hearing the question when people see his last name.
The answer is yes, by the way, he is part of THAT Kittley family.
Kade is the nephew of Texas Tech head track coach Wes Kittley and the cousin of Zach Kittley, the offensive coordinator of the Red Raiders football team. His brother serves as the offensive coordinator at Stephenville High School. As for Kade, he's the new head basketball coach at White Deer.
But he's done about everything else there is to do as well.
Kade Kittley most recently served as the athletic director, head football coach, head boys basketball coach and head track coach at his alma mater, Rule High School. Prior to his four year stint there, he'd had stops at Meadow, Miami, McLean and Woodson. All of that is to say Kittley is well traveled and well equipped for whatever task is handed to him. Now, that task happens to be basketball for the Bucks.
“I understand the small school atmosphere and I’m just happy to help," Kittley says. "Everywhere I’ve been I’ve wanted to come in and make the place a little bit better however I can do that. In whatever capacity I can help (athletic director and head football coach Justin) Rucker or help the kids in basketball I’m looking to do. I’m looking to help that school and community improve.”
As for his background, Kittley admitted that coming from a coaching family definitely helps prepare you for a career in the industry. Make no mistake, though, his love and passion for athletics comes from his heart, not an outside presence.
“I love sports, athletics and what that teaches," Kittley said. "You learn so much through sports and what all they teach. It’s always been a big deal in my family with my uncles, brothers and cousins. That kind of runs in our family so it did have an influence on me, but I also love and enjoy it myself.”
Now he'll be enjoying leading a young Bucks program. White Deer is coming off a season in which it went 6-26, but that included a victory over a playoff squad in McLean. The Bucks also closed out strong with a win against Claude to end the season. Kittley is looking forward to the opportunity to mold the young group and oversee its growth.
“They’re a younger group but they work hard and they get after it," he said. "We’re going to be relentless on the floor, we’re going to work hard and just get after it and that fits our kids. I’m excited because I’ve heard they’ve got some quickness and speed which is good because I like to play fast.”
It won't be an overnight transition. White Deer plays in District 2-1A with tough teams in Groom, Silverton and Valley. Hedley was a winning team last year as well and Claude possesses good athletes. Still, Kittley is bringing an energy and a vision to the Bucks that he hopes will have them competing for the postseason soon.
“I’m excited to get started," Kittley said. "White Deer has a solid tradition and I’m just looking to help improve the place even more. It’s not like I’m going into a bad situation given the tradition there so I’m just trying to help in whatever capacity I can. I just want to make it even better.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: New White Deer boys basketball coach Kade Kittley ready to get to work
