Montialli takes over at Kofa

Danilo Montialli knows that the Kofa boys basketball team he takes over will look very different than last year's Kings team that made the Class 5A Division II state semifinals.

 Still, the first-year head coach hopes the Kings have enough talent coming back to be competitive.

 "I like that we have some experience guards," said Montialli, who was born in Brazil to Italian parents. "We have four seniors coming back, and I like the variety and the background of the kids. We could do very well if we learn to feed off each other."

 Montialli, who played point guard for Arizona Western from 2001-03, coached girls' tennis last year for the Kings after graduating and playing for Northeastern Oklahoma State.

 Kofa athletic director Frank Garcia said Montialli can "do a lot of different things," and he has a lot of talents that make him a good head coach in many sports.

 "He's just a good coach," Garcia said. "He knows what he needs to do. He's multi-talented in athletics. I just think that was the way he was raised."

 Kofa went 21-11 last season behind the senior trio of Anthony Faidley - who transferred before the season from Marana Mountain View - Ryan Kinnell and Chase Fitschen, all of whom made The 2007-08 The Sun/Yuma Rotary Boys Basketball All-Region Team. Coach Kevin Williamson, who spent just one year with the Kings, left for Cathedral Catholic in San Diego.

 "It's going to be a transition year, but I still think he's going to instill the importance of the game like Kevin did - discipline, hard work, and things of that sort," Garcia said.  "Coach Williamson had some athletes that fell in his lap, and that was an added bonus also. I know we have some people returning, but it's hard when you lose a 6-9, 6-10 guy and a point guard that's 6-3, 6-4."

 But Montialli likes his returning players, particularly starting guards Kevin Folsom and Simon Corea.

"I expect the kids to  buy into the program and compete everyday," Montialli said. "I understand we lost three seniors, which was a big part of the team last year. But we will learn how to compete everyday and how to fight."