Liberty Patriots 2008 graduate Rob Marlow achieved one of his biggest aspirations on the hardwood.
Marlow, who graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 2012, was named the Newport Knights boys basketball head coach on June 19. Newport athletic director Gill James is ecstatic about the addition of Marlow to the Knights athletic department. Marlow was the team captain of the Pacific Lutheran Lutes football program in his senior season on the gridiron.
“Rob is an outstanding young man of high character who has a clear plan for Newport basketball. We are excited to start this next chapter here at Newport and the upcoming season next year,” James said in a press release.
Marlow was the head assistant boys basketball coach at Liberty from 2012 through 2015 and also was an assistant coach for the Liberty football team.
The 24-year-old Marlow is grateful for the opportunity to run his own high school basketball program.
“It is definitely an honor for me. Being a head coach has been a dream of mine. I’m definitely humbled by the opportunity. I couldn’t be more thankful for the mentors I have had. All of the credit goes to them,” Marlow said. “Omar Parker the head basketball coach at Liberty as well as Steve Valach (Liberty head football coach) taught me in terms of using the game of football and basketball to not only build winners, but also build great young men on and off the field and court as well.”
While Marlow said it was difficult to say goodbye to his alma-mater, he is eagerly anticipating the opportunity that has presented itself at Newport as the head basketball coach of the boys basketball program.
“To give back to the Liberty community after college was a great experience. It was definitely hard to step away from the Liberty community and move on. I couldn’t be more thankful for their support throughout this process,” he said. “Omar Parker has been a mentor of mine and everything I’m bringing to the Newport basketball program are based off things that I learned from him. As a head coach, my goal is to build a successful program from the ground up.”
Team camaraderie and giving 100 percent effort are going to be staples of the Newport boys hoops program, Marlow said.
“We are going to focus on having great energy and great effort. We’re going to be a team that plays tough and plays together,” he said. “The face of Newport basketball will be guys playing for another and guys playing the game for the right reasons.”
Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com
