Andrade is named new East Providence boys' basketball coach

Former assistant returns to replace Butler

By Mike Rego
Posted 8/30/16

EAST PROVIDENCE — The best and most qualified candidate in the district to take over the role as East Providence High School's new head boys' basketball coach has accepted the job and has been …

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Andrade is named new East Providence boys' basketball coach

Former assistant returns to replace Butler

Former assistant Joe Andrade has been named as the new East Providence High School boys' basketball head coach.
Former assistant Joe Andrade has been named as the new East Providence High School boys' basketball head coach.
By Rich Dionne
Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The best and most qualified candidate in the district to take over the role as East Providence High School's new head boys' basketball coach has accepted the job and has been approved for the position by the school committee.

Joe Andrade, an EPHS teacher and the long-time assistant to former Townies' head coach Alex Butler, will lead the program starting with the 2016-17 season. He was recommended by new East Providence athletic director Gregg Amore, presented for approval by Superintendent Kathryn Crowley and received the nod of the committee at its August 23 meeting.

"I'm excited. It's going to be a challenge," Andrade said of his new post. He previously served 11 years as the lead assistant/junior varsity head coach under both Butler and the latter's varsity predecessor, Kevin Monagle. Andrade took a one year's leave last winter before deciding to accept the head coaching role after Butler resigned at the close of the 2015-16 school term.

"It's going to be something new, something different," Andrade continued. "I'm definitely looking forward to it. I coached JV for a long time. This is the next logical step. It was a matter of not doing it and regretting it or doing it and seeing what happens. I decided I wanted to do it."

The decision, at first wasn't an easy one. During his winter away from the program Andrade started a personal training business out of a local gym in his native Warwick, where he still resides. It flourished, leaving him with a difficult choice about what to do next.

"Once Alex announced he was resigning, the kids asked me the next day if I was coming back to coach," Andrade explained. "I told them I had to think about. It took me a while. I thought about it. Gregg reached out to ask if I had any interest. In the end, it was a chance I couldn't let go. It's very tough to let a Division I job go without taking it."

Andrade, 38, graduated from Pilgrim High on Warwick's north side. He later returned to his alma mater to begin his coaching career, leading the Patriots' junior varsity for five seasons before applying for and eventually being hired at East Providence. He coached with Monagle for a year before the latter resigned. Butler took over the Townies and remained there through last winter.

"Joe has the experience with this team and this school. He's also a well respected teacher, a well respected coach. He's the perfect choice to take over for Alex," said Amore.

Added Butler, "I am happy that Joe will be taking over. We worked together for 10 years and I have the utmost confidence in him. He knows the kids, knows their strengths and weaknesses and he knows the league and coaches. I think the guys on the team will be happy in knowing that they have someone who knows them. Joe has always wanted to be a head coach and to have him take over is great. We've talked quite a bit and I'll be supporting him and the program 100 percent."

Andrade, who has been a Social Studies teacher at EPHS for six years, coached the JV Townies to the 2009 state championship and was on the bench with Butler during multiple runs by the EPHS varsity to the Division I playoffs.

The Townies are actually coming off one of their best regular seasons in recent years, earning their first-ever berth in the Open State Tournament as well as a return bid to the Division I championship event, but the vast majority of those players graduated. Though absent from the team last winter, Andrade said he remained an ardent observer and is optimistic about the Townies' prospects.

"I worked with Alex for a very long time, so I think it will be an easy transition. I don't think I need to be reacquainted. I've actually already started to prepare. I have a pretty good idea of who is going to be there," Andrade said. "I think we're going to run similar offensive and defensive sets. A lot of people don't know that Alex and I didn't know each other before he took the job. We actually hit off very well. A lot of things he did, I like to do. I expect that will continue to a certain extent."

Andrade has coached some of the five players expected to return to the varsity fold this coming winter: Dion Hazard, Kyerstan Casey, David Ogunrombi. Clinton Ogunrombi and Clinton Osbourne. In Hazard, Andrade said he believes he has his point guard, a key element to any team's hopes.

"We're going to be a young team, but I think we have a lot of potential. I really do. I'm excited to get going to tell you the truth," Andrade said.

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Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.