Bay hires former Gilmour coach John Curran to lead girls basketball team

If you can’t beat them, get their head coach.

That is the case for the Bay girls basketball team.

On May 7, the Board of Education approved the hiring of John Curran as the new girls basketball coach of the Bay Rockets.

Curran, who is a longtime Bay Village resident who coached CYO at St. Raphael School from 1995-2005, led Gilmour to the Division II state final in his only year at the helm of the Lancers, dropping the final to Toledo Rogers, 51-37.

Along the way, the Lancers knocked Bay out of the postseason in a Barberton Region semifinal in the Rockets first regional appearance since 2006.

Curran replaces Brian Hill, who parted ways with the Rockets after five seasons in March.

“We had many outstanding candidates apply and interview for the position,” Bay Athletic Director Matt Spellman said. “Having seen Coach Curran coach against the Lady Rockets in the regional semifinals, I was impressed with how hard the Gilmour girls played and how disciplined they were on both ends of the floor. Then during the interview process, it was evident that Coach Curran had a passion for coaching girls basketball and a passion for the Bay Village community.

“His desire to help each and every girl achieve success both on the court and in the real world made Coach Curran our choice to lead the girls basketball program.”

Curran, who stepped down as the Gilmour coach about two weeks ago, was a success in his only year in charge of the Lancers. In addition to the state runner-up trophy, Gilmour was 25-4 on the season, with Curran individually receiving the Division II Northeast Lakes District Coach of the Year honors.

Prior to his time at Gilmour, Curran was an assistant varsity coach at Magnificat from 2011-16, where he helped guide the Blue Streaks to a 120-26 record and five straight district championships.