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Eastern hires one of its own to lead its basketball program
A former Thunderbird is returning to the nest.
Jamie Hudson, a 1995 Eastern Greene graduate who most recently coached at Bloomfield has been hired as the new varsity boys basketball coach at Eastern.
When Jon Neill stepped down last month after six seasons at the Thunderbird helm Eastern Greene didn’t have to look very far to find its next coach. He was already in the building.
Hudson has taught Industrial Technology at Eastern Greene the last three years, ever since leaving Bedford Lawrence and taking the Bloomfield job in August 2016.
“I’m really excited,” the new coach said. “I graduated from here and I’ve always loved this program. I always wanted to come back and coach here.
“I was very thankful the school board and the AD were able to hire me.”
In his two years at Bloomfield, he guided the Cardinals to a 27-24 record, including the Class A Sectional 57 championship in 2018. It was Hudson’s first sectional title in his 13-year coaching career. Bloomfield finished 16-10 that season.
Hudson’s overall record is 157-142 with stints at Vincennes Rivet (two seasons) and Bedford North Lawrence (nine).
Hudson says, “We’ve hit the ground rolling,” in this, his first week with the returning players.
“It’s just a whole new philosophy on offense and defense,” the coach explained. “I’m just bringing my style of play to Eastern. I feel the kids are starting to pick up on it. They’re starting to learn things. I’m just really proud of how hard they’re working and how well they’re paying attention to details right now.”
Hudson was a four-year starter during his playing days at Eastern Greene. He says the way his Thunderbird teams played the game has shaped his coaching philosophy.
“I’m more of an aggressive man-to-man defense and more of a motion-type offense guy,” he said. “We’re going to set a lot of screens, be patient offensively and try to get the best shot we can each time down the floor.”
Hudson also said he plans to build for the future through the youth program.
“Eastern has always had a really strong feeder program all the way back to when I started in fifth grade,” he said. “I’ve got some really good coaches in the younger grades and I’m really looking forward to working with those guys.”
He added, developing the feeder program is key to building a foundation.
“You’ve got to make sure your foundation is strong in order for the program to sustain itself.”