Starting a new season can come with many challenges—graduating star players, adjusting to new players, and working through growing pains. This coming 2013-2014 winter, the Walpole High School Girls Basketball team will face these challenges along with a program-changing alteration: the welcoming of a new coach.

Shortly after the end of the girls’ 2012-2013 campaign, when the Rebels won the Bay State Herget Division title, long-time coach Stacy Bilodeau was notified that she would not be asked to return for the following year. With much controversy surrounding the decision, the remaining players were left with many questions about what would become of the program. The questions were finally answered recently, as Walpole native Jim Gallivan was named the new head coach for the WHS Girls Basketball program.

Gallivan, although new to the program, does not lack in experience—he coached at Framingham State for four years, acting as the head coach for three years and leading the girls to their most successful season in history in his first year as head coach; he was an assistant coach at Oliver Ames High School for seven years with the girls basketball program and five years with the boys and girls track programs; and was the assistant coach for the Dedham boys basketball program.  He is also no stranger to Walpole basketball, as he has seen each of the last six state championship teams from Walpole play in the past 30 years.  Junior guard Elizabeth Ryan said, “Mr. Gallivan has a lot of experience with the game and I think that can really only help us in the upcoming season.”

On top of his experience, Gallivan also prides himself on his positive coaching style—one that is unique and has been picked up through his years-worth of basketball knowledge. He has learned both what works and what does not work from both coaching on his own and learning from other coaches. Gallivan said, “I believe in the power of positive thinking.  Basketball is a great sport for people who are willing to try hard.  If you get the rebound and keep shooting, as long as the ball eventually gets in the basket, you have had a successful offensive possession no matter how many times you miss.”

In the short term, Gallivan’s goals are simple and much like those of any other coach: to build a successful basketball program, hopefully win another Herget crown for Walpole, and one day coach again in the Boston Garden.  However, his goals go beyond just basketball: he hopes the girls will have a positive experience in a basketball sense as well as personal success. He said, “I hope that the players will move on from Walpole High and be able to use some of the lessons they will have learned from playing basketball to help them succeed in college, career and family.”

As a coach, Gallivan does have high hopes for next season, but knows that every new season comes with its own set of challenges.  Gallivan said, “It will not be easy to replace a league MVP like Bridget Nicholson or a player like Lauren Bodin, but I think we can find ways to capitalize on our players’ strengths.  There are many talented players returning.”

Gallivan and players alike have positive ideas about how next season is going to go, as Ryan said, “Coach Gallivan has a lot of passion for the game and a positive approach to coaching, we could see that immediately, and I think that he can lead us to a successful season next year.”

Although the Rebels will have to readjust to a new style of coaching as well as the usual adjustments that all teams have to make heading into a new season, it is clear that Gallivan is invested in the program and will do his best to continue the success that has become almost an expectation in the Walpole High Girls Basketball Program.