Finkbeiner takes over as Modeltowners boys basketball coach

GWINN — Three months ago, the Modeltowners boys basketball team decided to go in a different direction as they opted to not renew the contract of Darren Sinnaeve. Three months later, their search is over and it’s an in–house hire for Gwinn.

JV basketball coach Jim Finkbeiner will now take over for the varsity squad. Finkbeiner has spent the last four years with the junior varsity team, after spending a decade at helping out with his alma mater Marquette’s basketball teams. He says familiarity with the players makes the transition very easy for him and the team.

“Knowing the kids definitely helps on both parts. On my part, I know what makes them tick. And at the same time, they kind of know what I’m all about. So there’s not a lot of re-tooling and having to relearn that curve of basketball,” Finkbeiner said.

Finkbeiner says he is well aware of the competition in the Mid–Pen Conference, but his goals for the upcoming season will stay the same.

“I have high expectations. I’m going to go into every game expecting to win. Are we going to win every game? No. That’s almost never going to happen. But as the year goes on, the more experience they gain and the more confidence they gain. I just have really high expectations that we can continue to just get better game after game,” said Finkbeiner.

Finkbeiner is also the cross country coach at Gwinn. The Modeltowners also announced that former Gwinn basketball player Kyle Aho will serve as the varsity assistant coach. Aho played a key role in the 2010 team that won the conference and district title.