Tesoro Coach Garrett cherishes time on the court and at home with his son Kaden

Kaden Garrett with his father, Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Tesoro boys basketball coach Steve Garrett had heard that coaching your son can present challenges.

So, he called Northwood Coach Tim O’Brien who had coached his son Chris and enjoyed the experience, to get advice.

“He said, ‘go coach him like you coach everyone else and you will love it. It will be time of your life and it will go by fast,'” Garrett said.

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O’Brien was right.

The four years have been an enjoyable one for both father and son. This season 6-6 Kaden Garrett has averaged 16.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists and been named all-tournament three times helping Tesoro to a 13-3 start. He was named all-league last year for the Titans, who captured the Sea View League crown with an 8-0 record.

“It’s great, I love it,” Coach Garrett said. “It’s been a good four years having him over there. I think it’s tougher on the kid than the coach. I think he enjoys it because he loves the guys and he loves Tesoro and he just wants to win. That’s what’s cool about coaching him, he’s like those other seniors, they just want to win. He’s all about the team.”

Kaden Garrett’s second home has been the Tesoro gym. He was born three weeks after Tesoro opened in September 2001 and “has been raised in the Tesoro gym,” Coach Garrett said.

So, Kaden was definitely aware of what was expected of him.

“I think he’s done a good job with it all and managed it well,” Coach Garrett said. “Whatever the expectations are, I think it’s tougher being a coach’s kid than the dad of a kid. There are a lot of coaches who one day want to coach their kid. I’m really fortunate that I get to. It’s very rare that you get to spend so much time with your kids.

“Also, besides coaching him he is an amazing kid to raise. He is an awesome son and a great big brother to his two young siblings and is best friends with his oldest sister.”

Kaden Garrett said the experience playing for his father has been fulfilling.

“It’s been great playing for my dad,” he said. “He really understands me as a player and it’s good to have solid conversations with him on how I can get better and how I can really impact and lead this team.”

When the Garretts are home, though, the focus isn’t on basketball.

“He does a really great job of keeping basketball in its place and being my dad and separating the two,” Kaden Garrett said. “We don’t talk too much about basketball at home, but when we’re in the gym, we definitely talk about basketball. When we’re at home, he makes sure to just be a father for me and it’s been good.”

On the court, Kaden Garrett said his father, “definitely treats me as another player. He definitely loves all our players equally and treats me like another player on this team.”

Senior guard Matt DeAngelo knows what it’s like playing for your father, and said the Garretts have handled it well.

“It’s an interesting dynamic because I used to play for my dad when I was a kid in baseball and it was challenging for me because he was my dad but at the same trime he was my coach, so it was different at home than it was on the field,” DeAngelo said. “I like to see it; they definitely have a special bond and it’s good to see.”

Kaden Garrett said he draws support from his teammates.

“This team is the best scenario for being a coach’s son because our team is so selfless and everyone just wants one another to play to the best of their ability and it’s been really good,” he said. “I’m very much enjoying it and it’s been a great season so far and been fun to play with my seniors who I grew up.”

Garrett said he hopes that his squad can continue winning and that he can play college basketball next season.

“We want to win as many games as possible, win league and see how far we can go in CIF, that’s the goal that I’m focused on,” he said.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com