sahuaro cougars basketball

Coach Henry graduated from Sahuaro High School in 1996, where he lettered as a member of the golf team. He began his coaching career as a youth club coach in 1995. In 2001 he graduated from the U of A and began his teaching and coaching career shortly after. He has coached basketball at Sahuaro for fourteen years, where he was the Freshman Head Coach for 4 years, JV Head Coach for 3 years, and is looking forward to his 12th year as Varsity Head Coach. He’s excited to be part of the tradition that is Sahuaro Basketball. Coach Henry is grateful for the supportive community and the opportunity to work with Coach Botkin, Coach Wharam and Coach Bearden. In the classroom, he teaches math at Gridley Middle School and off the court he enjoys to get time away on the golf course.

Coach Matt Botkin graduated from Sahuaro in 2002. He lettered in basketball and was a member of the 2001 state championship team under Coach Dick McConnell. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2006, with a degree in education and began coaching elementary and middle school basketball. A year later he became the freshman coach at Sahuaro. After 3 years he moved to JV coach and is currently beginning his 9th season. Coach Botkin is very proud to be a part of the Sahuaro basketball tradition, working with Coach Henry, Coach Wharam, and Coach Bearden and, to be able to give back to a program that has done so much for him. He is currently a 5th grade teacher at Wright Elementary. Off the court he enjoys time with his family and friends and playing golf.

Coach Wharam graduated from Sahuaro in 2000, where he lettered in volleyball and basketball. He was a starter on the state championship winning basketball team in 2000. In 2004 he graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelors in Photography. He recently completed his master’s degree and is now a full time teacher at Sahuaro. He has been the coach of the freshmen boys’ basketball team since 2010, and is looking forward to many more years keeping on the Sahuaro Basketball tradition. Coach Wharam is very grateful for the support he gets from Coach Henry and Coach Botkin, and he wouldn’t be able to keep up with everything if it wasn’t for his wonderful wife Alyssa and the love from his two kids, Conner and Emma.

Sahuaro welcomed Coach Bearden back to the basketball family in 2018. Andre played for Sahuaro Basketball, leading them on a state tournament run to the Great 8 in 2013. After playing for Sahuaro, Coach Bearden played for Oakland City University. After earning his Bachelors degree he returned to his roots where he now teaches P.E. at Gridley Middle School and has joined the coaching staff for your Cougars.