OTHELLO – On Oct. 7, Othello Athletics Director Carlos Gonzalez announced Caleb Tovar as the new head coach of the Huskies girls' basketball team. Tovar said he is ready to get to work for his team.   

“I'm already at the drawing board and seeing what we could come up with and how we're going to make these girls work hard, because they didn't have a bad season last year, but I feel like they still got more in the tank that maybe they don't even realize they have, so just figuring out a way to get them to really put all their effort into it,” Tovar said.   

Tovar has coached at Othello since 2014, going back and forth, helping out the boys or girls team each year. He is coming off working with the boys team in the offseason, which he said made it a tough decision to take the head coach job. However, the players from the girls varsity team directly asking him to take the job made a difference for him.   

“I just have a soft spot for that particular group of girls, I got a pretty close relationship with most of them, and primarily it was just that they were willing to work hard, they were itching to work hard. They wanted somebody to push them to work hard and that kind of got me excited, because that's kind of what I'm all about,” he said.   

Tovar said his philosophy is that you get what you put in, and hard work pays off. He said they are not always going to be the biggest or most skilled team on the court, but if they work hard and hustle, they can make some noise this season. For Tovar, it’s about who wants it more.   

This perspective stems from his own background in basketball. Growing up, he said it was always around him. His dad and brothers played basketball and playing around him influenced his passion for it. Played all four years at Othello before graduating in 2006 and walking on to play at Big Bend Community College.   

“I've never been the biggest, the strongest, or been able to jump the highest, but I've always known that if I'm able to just hustle and (give) effort, that goes a long way,” he said.   

After one year of playing for Big Bend, he stepped away from basketball to remain focused on personal family matters. However, it wasn’t long until he found his way into coaching. His coaching journey includes time at Northshore Christian Academy from 2012 to 2014 and Bear Creek High School from 2013-2014 before returning to Othello.   

Tovar noticed former Othello students tend to come back and coach for the Huskies' athletic program. He said small towns like Othello just feel like home. He said the response from the community since he was announced as the new head coach has been overwhelming and has taken some weight off his shoulders.   

“I think that makes a world of difference. Not only for me, but obviously for the girls and for the team. I think it helps shift momentum. It helps just let them know that people actually care,” Tovar said.   

Though Tovar is a familiar name to the girls basketball program, now that he’s the head coach, he has the opportunity to establish his own culture. That is something he said he is looking forward to doing.   

“We got a fresh slate. We're going to change the culture here, and we're going to make this just something that they enjoy. That way we get more girls coming out on the offseason,” he said.   

Tovar said one of the more consistent struggles is player turnout due to basketball not being their primary sport. However, he said if they can make it enjoyable to play, the turnout will come.   

He is focused on building team chemistry and having a cohesive unit to take the court every game this season.   

“Once they figure out how to play as a team and trust each other. I think Othello traditionally has been kind of a one-man game, two-man game. They struggle to play that team ball. I think once they figure out how to trust each other and play team ball, I think that that's going to go a long way,” he said.   

Tovar said if they begin the season with hard work and hustle, everything else will fall into place. The Huskies open their season Dec. 2 at Omak with tip-off set for 5:45 p.m. 

    Adolfo Coronado (right) and Caleb Tovar (left) load food for delivery during the Othello Christmas Basket distribution in Dec. 2021. Tovar graduated from Othello in 2006 and returned as an assistant coach in 2014.