Kade Reynolds

EAST LIVERPOOL — New East Liverpool boys basketball coach Kade Reynolds was born to be a Potter.

“I’ve been in the program my whole life,” he said. “I was born and raised in East Liverpool and have been coaching the last six seasons. It’s always been a dream to coach the Potters.”

While the East Liverpool Board of Education was unanimously approving his supplemental contract on Thursday, Reynolds was in Leetonia as the East Liverpool boys were wrapping up the summer basketball program.

“I’ve been with them all summer,” he said.

Reynolds is a 2015 graduate of East Liverpool High School and was a standout basketball and football player. He averaged a team-high 18.7 points a game during his senior basketball season.

He takes over for his high school coach, Nate Conley, who resigned earlier this month as his three daughters are getting involved in athletics.

“Nate taught me how to be a winner and how to be a Potter,” Reynolds said. “I’ve had the privilege of knowing him as a player and a coach. As a coach, he taught me as many things as he did when I played.”

Conley went 205-119 — a 63.3 winning percentage — in 14 seasons as the Potters’ head coach.

“I’m hoping to be another long-term coach for East Liverpool,” Reynolds said.

He will be paid $6,434 as boys varsity basketball head coach and $2,446 as boys elementary coach.

He has coached middle school and has been the head junior varsity coach the last two seasons. The incoming junior and senior classes have a 32-4 junior varsity record the last two seasons under Reynolds.

“I’m glad to have them,” he said. “Now I’m going to try to lead these guys to a district championship.”

The Potters’ varsity squad went 19-6 last season and was the Division II district runner-up a second straight year.

“We will be very senior heavy with eight to 10 seniors (and half the starting lineup back),” Reynolds said.

The Potters will continue to push the tempo.

“We’re going to be fast and aggressive on defense,” Reynolds said. “You will definitely see a lot of pressing. On offense, we like to get out and run, but also run some sets and be able to take some time off the clock when we need to.”

He said he had two interviews for the coaching position on Tuesday and last Friday.

Reynolds is married with an 11-month-old son. He has worked for four years at Heritage Thermal Services on the East End where he is inventory supervisor.

He knows there will be a learning curve entering his first season as head coach.

“I’m still going to lean on Nate for advice during the season,” Reynolds said. “All the responsibility falls on my shoulders now. That is going to be a big change.”