El Dorado High School named assistant coach Michael Luera as the new head coach of the boys basketball program.
Luera stepped into the role with extensive experience, having been part of the El Dorado program for nearly six years. He said he was eager to begin the next chapter.
“I'm excited to be here with these guys … to continue to build those relationships and, of course, ready to work to bring some championships back to El Dorado,” Luera said.
Luera said the team's senior class will play a critical role in establishing the program's strong team culture.
“It's huge. They set the example, and they are the foundation of our culture. We really concentrate on those seniors stepping up and taking those younger guys under their wing. That's how we continue to build that culture for years on,” Luera said.
Senior point guard Jacob Villalobos was excited about Luera taking on the head coach position.
"I feel great about it," Villalobos said. "Coach Luera already knows our system and what we kind of like to do. I'm just excited to get ready to work."
Villalobos said that one of Luera’s greatest strengths is his ability to hold the team accountable, which will be important as they work toward winning a district title.
“I feel like he'll help us by just holding us accountable and implementing stuff that we're going to need down the road. I feel like continuing to build relationships with him will help us overall just be more together as a culture and as a program,” Villalobos said.