Former coach Hopkins honored players followed in his footsteps

Jim Hopkins might have retired as Westside boys basketball coach, but his legacy will live on. And not just at Westside.

Four former players, including three from Hopkins' 1994 state championship team at Oceana, are following in his footsteps as head coaches.

"It's kind of an honor to think they'd want to do the same thing I've done," said Hopkins, who resigned last month to become principal at Oceana Middle School.

Nick Cook was named this week to replace Hopkins at the Renegades' helm. Jamie Lusk is taking over the Westside girls program from Larry Mathis, while Mathis' son Jason is in his third year as James Monroe boys coach.

Todd Lusk, who played for Oceana in the 1980s, has had great success as boys coach at Narrows (Va.) High School.

"It's good to know they loved the game enough to want to stay in it," Hopkins said. "I'm flattered that I had a little bit to do with it."

All four young coaches were outstanding players, earning all-state honors along the way.

"Their love of the game made them good players," Hopkins said. "Once it gets in your system, it's hard to get out."

The four aren't the only former Indians with coaching in their blood. Former Indian Joey Moran coached for a while in Pennsylvania.

Hopkins expects his son, Matthew, and football-basketball standout Larry Cook to apply to assist Nick Cook.

Matthew has helped his dad the past few seasons, while Cook, who coached football the last two years at Gilbert, has come home as an assistant football coach and teacher at Westside.

"One's blood and the other is almost," Hopkins said. "Larry played on my first junior high team."

Unlike some coaches who retire and then stay away from the games, Hopkins plans to stay involved with Westside basketball.

"It will be interesting to see how they do," he said. "I think they'll do well and I'll give them all the support I can.

"I'm only a phone call away."