"Remember, when you are not training, someone somewhere is training; and when you meet him, he will win."
Welcome to Marietta Boys Basketball!
Boys Basketball Coaching Staff
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Markus Hood
mhood@marietta-city.org Boys Basketball Head Varsity Coach |
The 2019-20 season will begin Markus Hood’s 20th season as a head varsity basketball coach and 2nd season as the Blue Devils’ head coach.
In 2018-19, the Blue Devils made the Sweet Sixteen knocking off top ranked Westlake on the road in the first round of the state playoffs. Falling to Roswell in the second round, the Devils finished with a final record of 16 and 14. |
Hood believes that the number one thing for building a strong program is building a strong culture. He believes that once a strong culture is in place, the basketball will take care of itself. Hood quoted Walter Reeves saying, “If you want a great garden, you must spend your money and time on the dirt.” Hood continued, “We must have an environment where all players have the opportunity to grow. In order to accomplish this, the environment has to allow kids the freedom to make mistakes to expand their game. We want fertile soil.” His basketball philosophy is “teaching the game of life through the game of basketball.” The overall mission of Marietta basketball is to leverage the game of basketball to unite and inspire our community. “Marietta basketball has a rich tradition, and we want to not only embrace that, but also bring back all of the excitement that has surrounded Marietta basketball for decades,” expressed Hood.
2019-2020 Outlook:
“After losing six seniors with three moving on to play college basketball and two others deciding to attend prep school, I really believe we have a solid nucleus of young guys who are learning the process of what it takes to become successful. Our off-season work has been really good and there has been a lot of growth.” Hood believes that although the region boasts some strong competition, the Devils will be right in the hunt for a playoff spot and hopefully playing for a region title. Hood said, “We will keep ‘pounding the stone’ until we get there.”
After reaching the state playoffs, Coach Hood is expecting more improvement this season. “To me, success is not really registered by wins and losses,” said Hood, “it is more about the growth of each young man in our program.” This year’s team has also put a lot of hard work in the off-season on the court, in the weight room and conditioning. “We pride ourselves on teaching our kids the game of basketball. Not plays, but how to play, and there is a big difference between the two,” according to Hood. After year one, the Blue Devils are looking to compete at high level and become a mainstay at the top of the 7A classification.
Hood also commented that Charlie Hood Court is one of the toughest places to play for opposing high school basketball teams. A big reason is due to the great atmosphere created by all the Blue Devil fans! Coach Hood also wanted to thank our booster club, sponsors, and entire school district for their support in continuing tradition of a premier high basketball experience. “Our players are treated like first class student-athletes from the gear they received to the facilities. I have never been around a better overall program than Marietta,” commented Hood. “I am so thankful to be here and hope to make our community proud in everything we do,” expressed Hood.
Overall, Hood has compiled a head coaching record of 374-179. In 19 seasons as a head coach, Hood has played for 10 Region Championships winning 6, made 14 state playoff appearances, five sweet Sweet Sixteen appearances, two Elite 8 appearances, two Final Four, two State Runners-Up, 2017 GACA Assistant Coach Junior North All-Star Team, 2017 GACA Region 6-AAAAAA coach of the year, 2016 GACA Region 5-AAAAA coach of the year, 2016 Marietta Daily Journal coach of the year, 2015 GACA Region 5-AAAAA coach of the year, 2015 Cobb County Tip-Off Club coach of the year, 2015 Marietta Daily Journal coach of the year, 2014 Atlanta Tip-Off Club Metro coach of the year (Bobby Cremins Award), 2014 GACA Region 5-AAAAA coach of the year, 2012 GACA Region 7-AAA coach of the year, 2004 GACA Region 7-AAAA coach of the year, 2003 Atlanta Tip-Off Club Region 7-AAAA coach of the year and eleven 20+ winning seasons.
Prior to Marietta:
As Allatoona High School’s first head coach, Hood compiled a record of 214-82 in ten years. In 2016-17, the Bucs won their 4th straight Region Championship and made another Final Four appearance only to fall short by 2 to the eventual state champions, Langston Hughes. Finishing the year 21 and 9 in a rebuilding year for the Bucs gives much promise for the year to come. The Bucs are 89 and 2 over the past 6 seasons in regular season region play.
In 2015-2016, the Bucs made back to back appearances in the Class 5-A State Championship game. Only to fall short to Miller Grove High School with a final score of 50 to 48. Making another strong showing in the regular season region play by going 18 and 0 and winning a third consecutive Region 5-AAAAA Championship. The 2015-2016 Bucs compiled a record of 31 and 1. In 2016-17, the Bucs won their 4th straight Region Championship and made another Final Four appearance only to fall short by 2 to the eventual state champions, Langston Hughes. Finishing the year 21 and 9 in a rebuilding year for the Bucs gives much promise for the year to come. The Bucs are 89 and 2 over the past 6 seasons in regular season region play. From 2012 to 2016 the Bucs had a streak of 76 wins in regular season region play. In 2015-2016, the Bucs made back to back appearances in the Class 5-A State Championship game. Only to fall short to Miller Grove High School with a final score of 50 to 48. Making another strong showing in the regular season region play by going 18 and 0 and winning a third consecutive Region 5-AAAAA Championship. The 2015-2016 Bucs compiled a record of 31 and 1. In 2007-08, Hood led the Hiram Hornets to their first ever State Final Four appearance falling to Wheeler in a close game. His team finished the year with a 24 and 7 record along with a final state ranking of #4 in the coach’s poll. This was a 20 win improvement over his first year at Hiram when his team went 4 and 22. He spent 4 years as head of the Hiram High School Varsity Boys Basketball Program following a 4 year stint as the Head Varsity Girls Coach at East Paulding High School. In his tenure at East Paulding Coach Hood took his team to four 20-plus winning seasons compiling an 88-30 record. Rounding out his coaching resume, he spent a year as an Assistant Varsity Boys Coach with Dodge County High School and a year at McEachern High School wearing the same title.
Hood was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. A 1993 graduate of McEachern High School, he was a 3 year lettermen in basketball and baseball. Following graduation, he played basketball and baseball at Atlanta Christian College. He is a 1999 graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education. Coach Hood continued his education at the University of Alabama earning his M.A. in Health Science in 2005. He finished his Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Cambridge College in 2007 and is currently working on his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Coach Hood currently resides in Marietta, Georgia. He married his wife Alyssa May of 2000. Their son, Daniel, was born on July 9th, 2010.
Go Blue Devils!
2019-2020 Outlook:
“After losing six seniors with three moving on to play college basketball and two others deciding to attend prep school, I really believe we have a solid nucleus of young guys who are learning the process of what it takes to become successful. Our off-season work has been really good and there has been a lot of growth.” Hood believes that although the region boasts some strong competition, the Devils will be right in the hunt for a playoff spot and hopefully playing for a region title. Hood said, “We will keep ‘pounding the stone’ until we get there.”
After reaching the state playoffs, Coach Hood is expecting more improvement this season. “To me, success is not really registered by wins and losses,” said Hood, “it is more about the growth of each young man in our program.” This year’s team has also put a lot of hard work in the off-season on the court, in the weight room and conditioning. “We pride ourselves on teaching our kids the game of basketball. Not plays, but how to play, and there is a big difference between the two,” according to Hood. After year one, the Blue Devils are looking to compete at high level and become a mainstay at the top of the 7A classification.
Hood also commented that Charlie Hood Court is one of the toughest places to play for opposing high school basketball teams. A big reason is due to the great atmosphere created by all the Blue Devil fans! Coach Hood also wanted to thank our booster club, sponsors, and entire school district for their support in continuing tradition of a premier high basketball experience. “Our players are treated like first class student-athletes from the gear they received to the facilities. I have never been around a better overall program than Marietta,” commented Hood. “I am so thankful to be here and hope to make our community proud in everything we do,” expressed Hood.
Overall, Hood has compiled a head coaching record of 374-179. In 19 seasons as a head coach, Hood has played for 10 Region Championships winning 6, made 14 state playoff appearances, five sweet Sweet Sixteen appearances, two Elite 8 appearances, two Final Four, two State Runners-Up, 2017 GACA Assistant Coach Junior North All-Star Team, 2017 GACA Region 6-AAAAAA coach of the year, 2016 GACA Region 5-AAAAA coach of the year, 2016 Marietta Daily Journal coach of the year, 2015 GACA Region 5-AAAAA coach of the year, 2015 Cobb County Tip-Off Club coach of the year, 2015 Marietta Daily Journal coach of the year, 2014 Atlanta Tip-Off Club Metro coach of the year (Bobby Cremins Award), 2014 GACA Region 5-AAAAA coach of the year, 2012 GACA Region 7-AAA coach of the year, 2004 GACA Region 7-AAAA coach of the year, 2003 Atlanta Tip-Off Club Region 7-AAAA coach of the year and eleven 20+ winning seasons.
Prior to Marietta:
As Allatoona High School’s first head coach, Hood compiled a record of 214-82 in ten years. In 2016-17, the Bucs won their 4th straight Region Championship and made another Final Four appearance only to fall short by 2 to the eventual state champions, Langston Hughes. Finishing the year 21 and 9 in a rebuilding year for the Bucs gives much promise for the year to come. The Bucs are 89 and 2 over the past 6 seasons in regular season region play.
In 2015-2016, the Bucs made back to back appearances in the Class 5-A State Championship game. Only to fall short to Miller Grove High School with a final score of 50 to 48. Making another strong showing in the regular season region play by going 18 and 0 and winning a third consecutive Region 5-AAAAA Championship. The 2015-2016 Bucs compiled a record of 31 and 1. In 2016-17, the Bucs won their 4th straight Region Championship and made another Final Four appearance only to fall short by 2 to the eventual state champions, Langston Hughes. Finishing the year 21 and 9 in a rebuilding year for the Bucs gives much promise for the year to come. The Bucs are 89 and 2 over the past 6 seasons in regular season region play. From 2012 to 2016 the Bucs had a streak of 76 wins in regular season region play. In 2015-2016, the Bucs made back to back appearances in the Class 5-A State Championship game. Only to fall short to Miller Grove High School with a final score of 50 to 48. Making another strong showing in the regular season region play by going 18 and 0 and winning a third consecutive Region 5-AAAAA Championship. The 2015-2016 Bucs compiled a record of 31 and 1. In 2007-08, Hood led the Hiram Hornets to their first ever State Final Four appearance falling to Wheeler in a close game. His team finished the year with a 24 and 7 record along with a final state ranking of #4 in the coach’s poll. This was a 20 win improvement over his first year at Hiram when his team went 4 and 22. He spent 4 years as head of the Hiram High School Varsity Boys Basketball Program following a 4 year stint as the Head Varsity Girls Coach at East Paulding High School. In his tenure at East Paulding Coach Hood took his team to four 20-plus winning seasons compiling an 88-30 record. Rounding out his coaching resume, he spent a year as an Assistant Varsity Boys Coach with Dodge County High School and a year at McEachern High School wearing the same title.
Hood was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia. A 1993 graduate of McEachern High School, he was a 3 year lettermen in basketball and baseball. Following graduation, he played basketball and baseball at Atlanta Christian College. He is a 1999 graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education. Coach Hood continued his education at the University of Alabama earning his M.A. in Health Science in 2005. He finished his Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Cambridge College in 2007 and is currently working on his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Coach Hood currently resides in Marietta, Georgia. He married his wife Alyssa May of 2000. Their son, Daniel, was born on July 9th, 2010.
Go Blue Devils!
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Nicholas Estes
nestes@marietta-city.org Boys Basketball Varsity Assistant Coach |
Coach Nicholas Estes is excited to be a part of Marietta Basketball and the Marietta community. He is committed to helping young men develop both on and off the court. He has been a Varsity Assistant since 2003. He began his career with the East Pauling Lady Raiders and then moved over to Hiram High School to coach boys the following year. He spent four years with the Hornets where they played Wheeler in the Final Four in his final year. Coach Estes then spent 10 years at Allatoona High School before moving over to Marietta. He has accrued a record of 306-154 with his Varsity teams. Over his career, he has been a part of back to back state runner-up finishes, 2 final four appearances, 10 total playoff appearances, and 6 region championships. Coach Estes earned his undergrad degree from Kennesaw State University. He then earned his Master’s degree at Troy University and received a Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University. He has been married to his wife Kimberly since March of 2010 and they have two children. Their son Kaleb was born in May of 2016 and daughter Margaret was born in September 2018. Their family resides in Dallas with their German Shepherd Zuri.
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Patavious Sorrell
psorrell@marietta-city.org Boys Basketball Varsity Assistant Coach |
Coach Sorrell will enter his 2nd year as an Assistant Coach for the Marietta Blue Devils. Sorrell began coaching in Collegiate Intramural and at the DA Turner YMCA youth basketball program in Columbus, Ga. He has worked his way up through the ranks and most recently served as the Head Boys Coach of Harris County High School in Hamilton, Georgia. During his four year tenure, he was voted by his peers as Region Coach of the Year while leading the Tigers too many firsts in their program's history.
He has also served as an Assistant Coach at W.H. Shaw High School in Columbus, GA for 6 years. He currently resides in Kennesaw, GA with his wife Jonai who is also a Marietta City Schools educator at Marietta High School. Sorrell hopes to continue his brand of "hard-nosed" basketball and produce further success. |
