ORANGE BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 1) WITH MARVIN RASHAD

By Noah Ricks

PEPPER PIKE OH- Marvin Rashad is entering his second season as head coach of the Orange boys’ basketball team. Coming off a 9-15 season a year ago, he looks to put on a showcase to the people of Pepper Pike. He comes into the season with promising talent and tremendous depth as he has been motivating his kids to go to the best of their ability day in and day out.

 

Coach Rashad grew up on the east side of Cleveland, graduating from Collinwood High School. His basketball prowess saw him make a huge journey around the world. He first stayed in town after high school to play collegiately at Tri-C downtown, but then later went on to play at D2 powerhouse Fairmont State in West Virginia, just 20 miles south of Morgantown. It would turn out to be a fun career for Rashad as he was an 1,000-point scorer at both colleges before having a four-year professional career overseas. He then transitioned into high school coaching in 2010 when he retired from playing and got his first head coaching gig in 2014 at Cleveland Central Catholic. After a five-year stint with the Ironmen, he then coached at Shaw for three seasons before landing his current job in June of 2023.

 

The 2024-25 campaign should be a good test for the team as Rashad has put together a battle-tested schedule. He is staying true to his eastside roots by scheduling tough schools like Warrensville Heights, Euclid, and Glenville. It should be a schedule that he hopes will prepare his team for tournaments, as well as a touch CVC Chagrin tier that features powerhouses in West Geauga and Hawken.

 

Coach Rashad has a wealth of basketball knowledge that he wants to instill in a program that has not won a district title in almost three-quarters of a century (1951). It is a challenge that he has taken head on as he wants to bring excitement and spark interest from everyone all the way down to elementary school. From hard film sessions to high-intensity practices, the team has been buying into the new mentality. When you come to an Orange Lions game on a cold winter night, you will be amazed with the basketball on display.

 

You can watch an exclusive interview of Coach Rashad with YSN’s Noah Ricks below.

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