Scott Lovely takes over Desert Edge boys basketball program

Scott Lovely has returned to high school basketball coaching, taking the head boys basketball position at Goodyear Desert Edge, replacing Randy Walker.

Lovely was coaching at South Mountain Community College after head coaching stints at Phoenix Arcadia and Gilbert Highland.

"I see this as an exciting opportunity to rebuild a former state championship program back to its winning ways," Lovely said in an official statement.

Lovely will be the third head coach since Joe Babinski left in 2012. Babinski, now leading Gilbert Perry's program, coached Desert Edge to a state championship in 2008.

After former Babinski assistant Brendan McEvoy led Desert Edge to 19 wins and a state quarterfinal finish in his only season in 2012-13, Walker took over the program.

Walker led Anthem Boulder Creek to its only boys basketball state championship in 2010, but he had trouble finding success at Desert Edge, which went 10-15 last season and 6-17 this year in his two seasons there.

"We are very excited to bring Scott to our campus," Desert Edge Athletic Director Leslie Saulsby said. "His leadership and experience will benefit not only athletics, but Scott will be an excellent addition to our teaching staff."

Saulsby thanked Walker for his "dedication and service."

Lovely, who said he missed the connection he had with high school players, said he will first get to know the current players, before finding other kids on campus to help build the program back up.

Highland went 1-25 in 2009-10, Lovely's last year as head basketball coach at a high school.

But Lovely had success at Arcadia, which was 53-31 in three seasons, from 2006-09.

In other coaching news, Matt Johnson has stepped down as head coach at Mesa Skyline and will become a varsity assistant at Gilbert Christian.

Johnson was head coach the past two seasons. Skyline improved five wins from Johnson's first year and went 12-14 this past season.