Stone Ridge Christian hopes new coach is long-term answer for boys basketball program
The Stone Ridge Christian boys basketball program has had a revolving door of coaches in recent years. New athletic director Marcello Martinelli hopes he’s finally found a long-term solution.
The school announced that Tyler Rogers as the new boys basketball coach this week.
Rogers becomes the fourth Knights coach since 2019.
“When I started looking for a coach I wanted someone local who could be at Stone Ridge Christian long term,” Martinelli said. “That’s kind of been the downside of our program. We’ll have a coach and he’ll be here one or two years and then he’s gone. I think Tyler has the passion to build something here.”
Rogers, 28, lives in Merced with his wife and their three children. He graduated from Buhach Colony in 2012.
Rogers has head coaching experience, coaching the El Capitan girls for three seasons. The Gauchos made the playoffs twice under Rogers, compiling a 49-37 record.
Rogers spent the last two years as an assistant coach for the Clovis West girls program, coaching under Craig Campbell. The Golden Eagles won back-to-back Central Section Open Division championships and went 48-5 the past two seasons.
“I’m pretty excited to come back where I’m from and bring some of the things I’ve learned the past two seasons at Clovis West,” Rogers said. “I’m excited about the team we have at Stone Ridge Christian and I think we’ll be able to compete at a high level.”
Rogers says he’s learned a lot since his first head coaching job at El Capitan.
“I gained a lot of experience the last two years coaching in big games, section and state playoffs and big-time tournaments,” Rogers said. “I understand what it takes to build a program the way (Clovis West) did. I can take what I learned and build something at Stone Ridge Christian.
“I think I’ve matured since coaching at El Capitan. I didn’t really coach under anybody before I started at El Capitan. I think the best thing I could have done was gain experience and I feel I’m a much better teacher of the game on and off the court.”
Martinelli said when he asked basketball people around Merced for names of potential coaches, Rogers’ name kept popping up.
“I talked to a lot of people and the people I talked to had good things to say about Tyler,” Martinelli said. “I was impressed during our interview with his plans for building the program and fundraising. He has a passion to build something here.”
Rogers is excited to hit the ground running at Stone Ridge Christian.
“Stone Ridge Christian is a good fit because I have a Christian background and I feel that combination of faith and basketball gives me an opportunity to come back and help as many kids as possible,” Rogers said. “It’s an opportunity to make an impact in the community and coach the sport I love.”
