Josh Robertson finds himself in a unique situation. He ended last season as the interim head basketball coach at Corrigan-Camden, leading the squad for four games.
Previous coach Avante Smith left the program, and Robertson, then assistant and head junior varsity coach, took over.
"Last year, they didn't have the guidance that they needed," Robertson said. "I got them with four games left in district. There is potential. We've got a chance of being pretty good, but we are basically starting over this year is how I would put it. Most of them are young. We do have two seniors and a junior that will help us, but everybody else is pretty young."
Robertson is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and spent his first three years in the profession at Huntington. He has been part of the Bulldog athletic department for five years now.
With the program under his control, he has a chance at a fresh start in the 2025-26 season.
"I just want the kids to go out and compete and know what they are doing," Robertson said. "We've had a lot of indecisiveness last year. I want them to know exactly what they are doing, know who they are on the floor with, know what each other is capable of, and just go out and compete. I think we will be fine from there."
Like many in the area, the coach hopes to establish an up-tempo system. He wants a defense that gets an opponents' faces and can turn rebounds into quick transition opportunities.
"Honestly, with me, it's not going to be too much of a change. I was blessed to have them all as J.V. kids. As far as the way that I do things and how I run things, nothing is going to be new there. They pretty much know everything. Honestly, I did a lot of it last year also. The head coach put in his critiques and everything, but mostly, the inbound plays and stuff like that is really just carrying over. Now, I have the keys to give them direction and make sure they know what they're doing."
Everyone in the program will start on the same level. Robertson said each will have their shot.
"If we can have ourselves ready by Christmas break, if we can be right there where we getting it and we know and understand everything, then I will be happy. We are predominantly a football school and most of the kids play football, but I'm trying my best to at least get them in the gym four times during football season, just so they can have a ball in their hands. That way we have something to go into. We did get a couple of days during the summer — which was new since I have been here — to actually go into the gym. We are just going to build off of that and try to get rolling.
"Since I have been here, they haven't had a chance to actually go up to the gym (in summer) and have what we call 'skill days.' We did play in some summer league tournaments while I have been here, but I didn't reach out in time or get a chance to get them into a summer league this year. Next summer will be completely different. I will know from experience to reach out earlier to get us into a summer league, even if we have to build one around here. I'll have more coaches’ contacts around here to get something rolling, also."
With football and baseball extremely popular on the north end of Polk County, basketball has had difficulties creating a consistent winner. Robertson feels as though the job might be difficult, but one for which he is ready.
"It is pretty tough. Football is No. 1 and there is no argument about it. I am a football guy myself. You also have baseball, with five guys (in the basketball program) that are pretty important for the baseball team. I take what I can get, and I tried to be fair — not only asking for them to come to basketball, but I'm also willing to share during basketball season — if they need to go down to baseball to get some skill days in."
One of the advantages Robertson will enjoy is knowledge of the student-athletes he'll work with, having directed them on the lower levels.
"It is just one word – compete. If we can go out and we can compete, I will be happy with that. I know that they have the potential, because a lot of these guys I did have two years ago. It was J.V., but they did go through district without losing a game. They have the potential. Now, we just have to mix it up and run off of what we know, forget about last year and go out and compete.
"We've got a chance. There's been some coaching changes, especially for Shelbyville and I know they lost a lot last year. We will be competing with Shelbyville, Chireno and San Augustine. We want to be at least in the top four. If I can get us into two or three, I would be happy."
Robertson will also coach football and track. In football, he is over the junior high, while coaching tight ends and running backs on the high school level. In the classroom, he will instruct Algebra I.
