Legendary Local Coach Battenberg Finds New Home at Capital Christian

Although retired from his teaching profession for four years now, Terry Battenberg, 64, has no intention of lying back and taking this whole "retirement" thing to heart. Since walking away from a career as a math teacher, Battenberg has remained knee-deep in his other passion: teaching young people the game of basketball.

He has stayed active in the game by putting on clinics and camps for youngsters who want to improve their game. Already this year, Battenberg has participated in clinics in Australia and Japan in addition to California.

But the coach in him (the one that has coached for more than 40 years) wants back on the sidelines and has for some time.

When asked why he wanted to take on the job as coach of 's boys varsity team, Battenberg replied quickly "because they asked me."

"I had been wanting to coach, but there were no openings," he said.

His relationship with former head coach Phil Oates was also a deciding factor.

Oates, who will stay on as an assistant alongside Battenberg, spoke highly of the new coach.

"He's a very organized coach and a great builder of talent," Oates said. "He teaches the game of basketball the same way he taught math. He's a good communicator."

Oates said that fans and followers of Capital Christian basketball will enjoy a successful season in 2011-12 with Battenberg at the helm.

"I think it will be a very good team," he said.

Battenberg watched Capital Christian play three times during this last season, so he is at least somewhat aware of the talent he will have at his disposal when summer league kicks off.

As far as what the new coach will preach to his players, Battenberg has always been a believer in a fast break style of basketball. His players will learn to practice fast and scrimmage hard in game-like situations. He is not a believer in wind sprints and "suicides" because to him they do not have anything to do with basketball.

His last head coaching job was with Union Mine High School in 2006 and as an assistant at California State University, Sacramento, in 2008. It is the working with youngsters that brings him back one more time.

"I look forward to working with young men who want to be better at the game," he said. "I look forward to the relationships and taking their game to a new level.

For more information on coach Battenberg and his clinics, visit his website at www.coachbattenberg.com.