West hired at Freedom High School

From staff reports
Published: July 15, 2008

James West has been hired as Freedom High School’s new head boys basketball coach.
West was an assistant coach for the Eagles for three seasons under Ahmad Dorsett.
Dorsett, the school’s first coach after the school opened in 2004, stepped down in early June.
The 32-year-old West also served as an assistant at Bishop Ireton for one season and served as an assistant at Woodbridge for four years.
“Transition-wise it will not be different, but I’m the new person with new opinions ... My philosophy will be different so I need to get [the players] on track with my system,” West said. “I want to maintain the winning tradition we have here, but do it the right way.”
Dorsett led the Eagles to three straight Northwest Region Tournament appearances and went 54-48 overall in four seasons.
For the 2007-08 season, the Eagles finished 14-11 and won the Cardinal District Tournament title. Freedom graduated six seniors, including five who were starters.
A teacher at Freedom, West credits University of Maryland men’s basketball assistant Chuck Driesell with being a big influence on his coaching career.
West, who is from Petersburg, played for Driesell for one season at Marymount.
He also coached under Driesell at Ireton.