Former Triton Central coach Perry Nash calls out a play during the boys basketball game at Greenwood on Dec. 13, 2017. Nash has been named the new coach at Columbus East.
Daily Journal file photo
Perry Nash has spent six years as a head coach, and after four years as an assistant at Franklin Central, he was ready to become a head coach again.
Nash will get that opportunity at Columbus East. He was announced Friday as the Olympians’ new boys basketball coach.
“I’m ready to get back after it,” Nash said. “I’m thankful for my time under (Franklin Central) coach (Criss) Beyers. I learned a lot from him. I still had the itch to become a head coach again, and I’m really excited about this opportunity.”
A graduate of Winchester High School and Ball State University, Nash began a five-year stint as an assistant at Winchester while he was in school at Ball State. He moved on to Knightstown as assistant for three years, then Forest Park for two years and Shelbyville for four years.
Nash took his first head coaching job in 2014 at Jac-Cen-Del, and in his second year, led the Eagles to a 19-9 record and a sectional title. He spent the next four years as head coach at Triton Central and the past four years as varsity assistant at Franklin Central. He has a 64-79 record in six years as a head coach.
While hosting a fall league when he was at Triton Central and Franklin Central, Nash has gotten to know some of the youth coaches from the Columbus Revolution, Heat and Wolverines travel basketball programs.
“I’m the type of guy that wants to build from the bottom up,” Nash said. “Columbus is in a unique situation where the kids get to choose their school, so I really believe that developing relationships with younger kids is going to be key. It sounds like we have a handful of young guys, and I can’t wait to get in the gym with them and get to working on skill development and pushing them to be the best they can be and attacking it that way.”
David Miller, who is replacing retiring East athletics director Pete Huse, headed the search committee. Miller said he had about 20 applicants and interviewed five or six before deciding on Nash.
“I think it started off with the relationships that he has built with players in the past and his plan for building relationships and building a program here at Columbus East,” Miller said. “Also, his passion and love for the game of basketball and the energy that he plans to bring every day. His experience and some of the coaches he’s worked with is a big factor in why we wanted him as our next head coach in our boys basketball program.”
Incoming East principal Michael Parsons also was part of the search process.
“The opportunity to hire a coach who is a proven leader, passionate educator and dedicated to growing the game of basketball at Columbus East is exciting and energizing,” Parsons said in a news release. “Perry and his family will be a wonderful addition to our Olympian family, and I am looking forward to the short-term and long-term impact he will have on the lives he impacts through the game of basketball and in the classroom.”
Nash replaces Brent Chitty, who resigned following the 2022-23 season. Nash is licensed to teach physical education, health and math.
Nash, who lives in Shelbyville with his wife and son, has been to the Orange Pit during his time as an assistant at Shelbyville.
“The Columbus area I think is a great community that takes a lot of pride in their athletics,” Nash said. “That place is always rolling because it still has that small Indiana feel to it. I think it’s a great gym and a great atmosphere. I’ve always enjoyed that gym.”
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nash will meet players, families and the community at an open house at East. The open house is open to the public.
