If Mike Grothaus promotes team play as much as he displayed it in his high school days, he should be successful as the new boys basketball coach at Basha High.

Grothaus told the East Valley Tribune on Thursday he's been hired as its next coach. Grothaus replaces John Burns, who resigned last month to pursue an opportunity in Missouri.

Grothaus has assisted at Mesa Community College since the 2008-09 season with MCC head coach Sam Ballard. He was the guy that did the dirty work for the Tigers, rebounding and drawing the tough defensive assignments for Gilbert High's 2003 state-title team coached by legendary East Valley coach Tom Bennett. 

That Gilbert team was the blueprint of team basketball and one of my favorite of all time for that reason. It was a team that role-played to the nth degree and rewarded by its hard work and selfless play with a state title. Grothaus will be the third coach in as many years at Basha following Burns (2011-2012) and Brad Pintor (2010-2011).