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John Kwok named head basketball coach
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Fr. Patrick Fulton, C.S.B., Principal of St. Thomas High School and Athletic Director, Mike Netzel, are pleased to announce that John Kwok has been named head coach of the school's basketball program. Kwok has had two stints coaching at St. Thomas, as he served as an assistant coach for the Varsity in 2007-2008 then the Freshmen coach in 2008-2009, Junior Varsity coach in 2009-2010 before returning to coach the Freshmen A team for the 2011-2012 season. He also taught Geometry during the 2011-2012 school year
"Coach Kwok combines a number of the elements that we viewed as essential in a head coach," Fulton said. "He has great familiarity with the history and tradition at St. Thomas, has experience within our program and appreciates being an active member of our community."
Born in Malaysia, Kwok moved to the United States with his family as an adolescent. He graduated from Memorial High School, where he played basketball, before attending Texas A&M University.
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the way for such a prestigious program," Kwok said. "The history of excellence at St. Thomas is incredible, and I will strive to make sure it continues."
Kwok recently returned from a trip to China, where he served as an assistant coach for a team made up of Euroleague players and Division I athletes from around the country. Among the schools represented with players were Washington State, Murray State, Saint Louis, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tennessee Tech, Valparaiso and Vanderbilt.
"Being around professional and Division I players for a few weeks only furthered my development as a coach," Kwok said. "The enrichment and experience will be very useful down the road."
The 2011-2012 basketball season ended with a loss to Plano Prestonwood Christian in the TAPPS Semifinals, the same team that the Eagles knocked off to a win the state title in 2011. Nine members of last year's squad graduated in May, including McDonald's High School All-American nominee Christian Sanders and TAPPS First-Team All-State selections Chase Brogna and Jeremy King.
"We will certainly be young, but the recent success of our sub-varsity teams will pay off as those players move up to compete at the Varsity level," Kwok said.
After a 17-year drought, the basketball program earned its first TAPPS state title in 2008, with a 2nd following three years later. Netzel sees the program as stronger than ever and envisions future success at Kwok's direction.
"My confidence in Coach Kwok as the leader of this program is tremendous," Netzel said. "He will be the catalyst for the team staying a major power in the Houston area."
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