November 21, 2010

PLANO - There was an air of nostalgia from the Plano East gymnasium on Friday night.

Onlookers for Friday’s outing against Grand Prairie might have noticed a familiar face patrolling the Gophers’ sideline, as former Plano Senior head coach Tom Inman returned to coach in Plano for the first time since his days at the helm of the Wildcats.

“[East head coach Doug Bleadorn] is a great friend of mine,” Inman said. “He’s been a friend for years and years and years. It felt really cool to be back and we’ve arranged it so [East] will come play at our place next year.”

Inman led Plano to a Class 5A State Championship in 2006 and resigned from the program two years later while on paid administrative leave amid an allegation that he struck a drill team instructor on her leg with a wooden stick as their teams practiced.

Since then, Inman has plied his craft as an assistant at Arlington Bowie under friend and head coach Allen Gratts and most recently took the job to spearhead the Grand Prairie boys basketball program in the spring.

While Friday night may have been Inman’s first time coaching in Plano since his resignation, he still maintains the friendships established during his time with the Wildcats.

Noting the bonds with Bleadorn and East assistant Greg Thomas, Inman said he still keeps in touch with former assistant and current Plano head coach Phil Parlin, along with Plano assistant Jeff Vines.

“I always tell people if you spent 20 years at a place and didn’t develop any relationships, you’re really shallow,” Inman said. “All Plano does is give us a job and lease us a gym, and ask what you’re going to make out of it as far as basketball success and relationship success.

“When it’s all said and done, no one remembers what your records were anyways. Some people probably don’t even remember we won state.”

Now resurfacing with the Gophers, Inman takes charge of a squad that went 0-26 last year. A lofty task at first glance, Inman is nothing short of undaunted in attempting to turn the program around.

“I’m a contrarian and look at things in a different way than some people,” he said, “and with the greatest difficulties come the greatest opportunities … What a great opportunity.”

Viewing his latest coaching gig as having nothing but upside, Inman’s Gophers are off to an 0-2 start after dropping games to East and McKinney Boyd. But in waiting for the results, all Inman’s looking for early on is effort.

“If you give effort, I’ve got to live with the results,” he said. “I told them that I may not be much on Sundays and you may not care much for me, but I’m all you got and you’re all I’ve got, so let’s go.”

And while eyes may have been on that effort from Grand Prairie on Friday, fans glancing over at the Gophers’ bench got a reminder of one of the most noted personalities for the past two decades of local high school basketball.

Still as boisterous, energetic and animated as ever.

“There’s never a dull moment when you coach against Tom,” Bleadorn said. “It really spices up the game. Tom’s a great friend and it was good to see him back out there.”