When then-head Coach Hannah Lekson decided to step away from the Peninsula Seahawks girls basketball team to focus on her career outside of basketball, Athletic Director Ross Filkins didn’t have to look far down the bench for her successor.
After 11 years as an assistant coach with the Seahawks, Nelson Garbutt is stepping into his first head coaching role, bringing experience, familiarity and a renewed focus on team identity.
Since joining the Seahawks program in 2013, Garbutt has worked under five different head coaches: Steve Jacobson, Dave Hawkins, Shane Patrick, Mike Schick and Lekson. The Los Angeles native said his history with the program was a key factor in his decision to accept the head coaching gig, even as other head coaching opportunities surfaced over the off-season.
“The biggest thing for me was loyalty,” said Garbutt, who played college basketball at San Jose State and works with at-risk middle school students in Tacoma Public Schools. “There are always going to be high expectations at Peninsula, but at the same time, they’re more realistic expectations than some of the other places I was a candidate for.”
Peninsula ended last year’s 14-10 season with a disappointing 49-39 first-round loss to Ridgeline, marking the third straight year the Seahawks bowed out in the opening round. Garbutt is starting his tenure with a fresh approach.
“We’ll have a different look this year,” Garbutt said. “I’m a defensive-minded coach, and I want to see our opponents caught off guard. We’ll have different defensive schemes not just throughout the season, but also within games. My goal is to play fast, get in your face, and bring some excitement.”
Garbutt taking on the head coaching role is a stabilizing force for a team that struggled at times with consistency last season. While the Seahawks earned a spot in the state tournament, their post-season was marred with cold shooting from the field and free throw line, and senseless turnovers.
He attributes some of that lackluster late-season play to their dependence on the Seahawks starters — outgoing seniors Daisy Peay, Irene Segura and Kaylia Heidelberg, and returnees Grace Richardson and Maci Miller — who often played the entire game.
“When you play heavy minutes, your legs get heavy. It’s not an excuse, just the reality of the matter,” Garbutt said.
To combat that this season, Garbutt is looking for a deeper rotation, and for younger players to fill in key roles and embrace opportunities, especially in high-pressure situations. His first major battle is convincing his team they can’t just rely on Richardson, a first-team all-conference selection last season, who Garbutt calls a “dominant guard who is one of the best players in the league.” She finished last season second on the team in scoring, nearly averaging a double-double (15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game). She also led the team in assists (5.2) and steals (3.4).
With Peay, Segura and last year’s leading scorer Heidelberg gone, the Seahawks lost nearly 55% of their scoring. With Richardson contributing the other 45%, Garbutt and his team now face a significant gap to fill.
“We’re going to showcase Grace, but her talent is no secret, and other teams will try to take her out of her game,” Garbutt said.
“So we can’t rely on her alone for everything.” Garbutt mentioned that a big part of his job this year is to empower his players to realize this is a team effort. “Because Grace is so good, I have to convince them they are all an intricate part in making this team work. It can’t just be, ‘Stand around, watch Grace.’ Everyone has to learn to be a threat in order for us to be successful.”
He’s looking for Miller (3.8 points per game) to step up production on both ends of the floor. Miller, who transferred to Peninsula from Gig Harbor before her junior season, has been a constant presence in offseason training and is emerging as a vocal leader for the Seahawks, according to Garbutt.
“Maci wants a leadership role,” he said. “She’s smiling more and starting to get comfortable in her own skin here, more so than last year.”
Garbutt is also looking for senior guard Brooke Kaufholtz and senior center Katelyn Lea to get major playing time. Although he hasn’t had a chance to see them play, Garbutt has heard inklings of a pair of out-of-state transfers who could have an impact this season.
While developing team chemistry is Garbutt’s focus, the reality of a challenging season is quickly approaching.
The season tips off Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., at Silas High School in Tacoma The first home game is two nights later, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., against Lincoln. The new Puget Sound League schedule starts Dec. 13 when the Seahawks take on last year’s conference champion, and perennial thorn in their side, North Thurston. The Rams are led by all-state guard and two-time South Sound Conference Player of the Year Soraya Ogaldez.
Peninsula’s lone regular season game against Gig Harbor is Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the PHS gym.
For Garbutt, the ultimate measure of success won’t be defined solely by wins and losses. As he sees it, building strong team chemistry and creating a positive experience for his players is just as important as a deep run in the state tournament. It’s about laying the groundwork for long- term success, both on and off the court.
“I want them to create experiences together,” Garbutt said. “The games sometimes become a blur, but the experiences and process in between are what help build friendships and bonds.”
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