Mark Oates became Leesburg's girls basketball coach in 2004 and has not had a losing season
LEESBURG — When Mark Oates came to Leesburg in 2002, he did so as the school's softball coach. He also had experience as an assistant football coach and as a boys and girls track coach.
But it is coaching Leesburg's girls basketball team where Oates has found a home. After heading up softball for one season and working as an assistant in girls basketball, he took over the basketball program and the Yellow Jackets have been on a run ever since.
A 30-year state tournament drought ended when Oates took Leesburg to the state semifinal in 2007. Leesburg returned to state in '08 and is back there for the third time in five years this week.
"We have been blessed," Oates said. "There have been a lot of remarkable coaches who have coached their entire careers and have never gone to a final four."
"I don't take it for granted and I hope our players don't take it for granted, either. I don't think the average person realizes how hard it is to get to this point. This has been our focus since we lost to [Ocala] Vanguard [in the region semifinal] last year."
Leesburg (23-6), No. 10 in the Sentinel Super 16, will meet St. Petersburg Lakewood (27-4) in the 4A state semifinal game Friday at 10 a.m. in the Lakeland Center. The winner will play for the state championship Saturday at 12:05 p.m. against either Pensacola (22-3) or Titusville (28-2)
If Leesburg reaches the state title game, it will be its first appearance in the final since 1977 when the Yellow Jackets lost 61-32 to Hallandale in the Class 3A title game.
Oates, 48, never has had a losing season as Leesburg's coach. The Yellow Jackets have had five seasons of 20-plus victories, including a 29-2 record in '08. His teams have won nearly 77 percent of their games. His combined record is 173-52.
As a youngster growing up in North Carolina, Oates was a fan of the University of North Carolina and of its coach, Dean Smith. His approach to the game is similar to the one Smith used to build a dynasty with the Tar Heels.
"My preferred style of play is the same style Dean Smith used," Oates said. "In our system, we don't run a whole lot of set plays on offense. Scoring opportunities come if you are willing to play defense. It is not hard for kids to buy into the philosophy of having to play defense because they can score points."
Despite his individual success, he said it wouldn't be possible without players willing to sacrifice.
"I attribute most of the success that I have had to having some young ladies who can play the game," Oates said. "I just try to get the kids to believe in themselves. I just try to stress to them not to let anybody outwork us. The kids work hard and they want to be successful."
jrwilliams@tribune.com or 352-742-5921. Read Joe Williams' blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/varsityblog. Sign up for the Varsity sports newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.
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