WEST MIFFLIN — Dr. Hal Minford has long had a love for the game of basketball.
From his time as a kid playing on the playground to playing at Clairton High School and then Point Park, and then coaching in various capacities, the hardwood has always been a special place for him.
So after a few years away from the game, it’s no surprise that he had the itch to get involved again.
Dr. Minford was named head boys basketball coach at West Mifflin Area High School at the September School Board meeting and is eager to get started.
“It’s been a passion of mine for a long time, and I’m excited to be back,” said Dr. Minford, who also serves as the principal at West Mifflin Middle School. “I’m getting back into coaching shape, because it’s (about having) energy. I’m excited.”
Dr. Minford’s playing career began at Clairton, and then he spent his college career with Point Park.
“To tell you how old I am, I graduated before the three-point line (came to be),” Dr. Minford said with a laugh. “I was basically a ball handler and distributor. I played with great players at Clairton, and I just orchestrated the offense and got the ball to other guys. Then, when I got to college with the three-point line, I developed into a point guard that could shoot threes.”
After his playing days concluded, Dr. Minford spent time as a volunteer assistant at Clairton, and then in 1993 was hired as an assistant at Point Park. He stayed in that position until 2000.
In 1997, the Pioneers advanced to the NAIA Tournament in Tulsa, Okla., and made a run to the Final Four as the 26-seed. That team was enshrined in the Point Park Athletics Hall of Fame.
Dr. Minford stepped away for a few years until 2003, when he took over as the head boys basketball coach at South Allegheny. After two years at SAHS, he moved on to coach at Carlynton until 2010.
He stepped away once again to watch his kids play during their school years.
But, with his children graduated from high school, Dr. Minford got the itch to return to the game, and took the coaching position at West Mifflin, a district he joined as an administrator in 2019.
The transition has been smooth so far, Dr. Minford says, particularly because he’s guided many of West Mifflin’s players as their middle school principal.
“The kids have come through the school, with the exception of a few, so I have a rapport with them. They know me, and I know them,” Dr. Minford said. “The transition’s been a little easier with trying to establish what we need to do.”
The Titans also have been holding open gyms to build fundamentals and team chemistry. Anywhere from 25-35 players have been in attendance.
While the team continues to find its identity, Dr. Minford does have a few core principles in mind.
“We want to get to the point where we’re able to share the ball and get easy shots. Defensively, we’ll play numerous defenses with a lot of pressure to try to create easy baskets off of defense. The kids will play hard,” he noted.
And outside of the lines, Dr. Minford hopes to teach some important life lessons, too.
“I would like for them to understand that winning in sports is very important, because sports create leaders and winners,” he said. “It’s very important to compete, because in life, you’re going to compete. It’s important to win, because you want to win at your job and in anything you do in life.
“So I want these guys to understand that and also understand you can get to wherever you want to go with hard work and discipline. … By working hard and putting in the effort and time to achieve, anything is possible.”