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When returning your entire basketball team, a squad coming off a regular season district title, chemistry is one thing you don’t want to interfere with.

Morristown East made sure to keep that chemistry intact when deciding on their new head boys basketball coach.

On Thursday, East announced the promotion of Brice Cusick to Head Boys Basketball Coach. Cusick has been an assistant at East for the past two seasons, learning the ins-and-outs of the program as well as the players themselves.

“I am beyond excited,” Cusick said. “I’ve been interim for about two to three weeks, and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I am just ecstatic about making this official and getting ready to go to work with the guys.”

This will be Cusick’s first head coaching job, however, he has learned a lot during his time as an assistant coach and feels like he is ready to step up and lead the ‘Canes.

“The mindset is that there is a lot of pressure and more stress, but I welcome it,” Cusick said. “I have taken the approach that life is going to give you certain situations, and I think I have risen to them throughout my life. I think this is going to be no different.”

When going through the interview process, Cusick said he stressed his relationship with the kids already in the East program and how he will continue to try and impact their lives on and off the court.

“I believe that I am good for them,” Cusick said. “I believe that I can give them experience. My whole vision is to give a lasting, meaningful and rewarding experience to seniors all the way down to managers. I believe that is what high school is about. I was fortunate to have a good experience in high school, and I want to share that with the kids in the program.”

Cusick is no stranger to the area and the Inter Mountain Athletic Conference, having spent his high school days at Jefferson County High School. Despite growing up in Jefferson County, Cusick said he is all in and a member of the East side of Morristown.

“It just worked out that I have come over to the East side, and I have loved it ever since,” Cusick said. “I am a Hurricane through and through. I just cannot believe this opportunity I have been given and am excited. I’m a Hurricane now.”

Cusick replaces his former boss, Alden Collins. Collins spent the last four seasons as head coach of East, going 84-43.

For Cusick, he spent his two years under Collins understanding what it takes to be a head coach at the high school level and the commitment that comes with it.

“I learned a lot of terminology and a lot of nuisances,” Cusick said. “I learned how to run a practice. I played in college and in high school but didn’t really know what all went into it. I soaked in everything I could, watching film and watching (Alden).”

Cusick walks into a team with familiar faces as East had zero seniors on last year’s regular season district championship squad. Because of the familiarity the team has with Collins’ offensive and defensive game plans, Cusick won’t look to change too much with the game plan.

“It will be similar,” Cusick said. “The kids have played this way, and I think it has been successful. We want to play fast and gritty. I’m just looking to breathe a bit of fresh air in there and add a few new concepts. But it will look pretty similar. I think these kids thrive on fast paced basketball.”

One of the many kids that Cusick is excited to have back on his team is senior Kyle Cloninger. The 2022-23 Lakeway Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Cloninger has started just about every game since his freshman year and will be Cusick’s floor general come November.

“He’s the floor general and an on-court coach,” Cusick said. “He’s just so smart and giving to his teammates. It would make our job a little harder if he wasn’t the way he is, but he’s perfect in the sense of how you want a player to be as a coach.”

In terms of goals, Cusick wants to continue the upward trajectory that East has been on and shoot to go advance farther in the postseason.

“I’m just looking to continue to grow this program and lead it in the right direction.” Cusick said. “I feel like it’s set up to go in the right direction. I just want to make some noise in the district and region and get these guys farther down the road than we have in the past.”

The season will start for the ‘Canes in November as East looks to defend their District 2-4A Regular Season Championship.