Coy Stampone figured it would be a good time.

The veteran coach, who spent last season as the head boys' basketball coach at Pen Argyl after a seven-year stint in the Nazareth boys' varsity system, decided last spring to apply for the head boys' position at Northampton. After all, Stampone has been a teacher in the school district for the past six years.

When he was named to the post this past spring, Stampone knew he would have some challenges ahead. For one, the team is coming off an 8-14 campaign under former head coach Ed Ohlsen, who guided the program for the previous eight seasons. The K-Kids also lost two starters and four seniors from last year's unit.

Stampone will also begin the year without the services of 6-foot-7 senior pivot man Derrick Kulp, who injured a knee during an AAU game this past spring; senior guard Boston Leafwitch, who was injured during football season; and sophomore Garrett Oplinger, who earlier suffered a broken leg.

Yet, the optimistic and upbeat Stampone won't let too many possible roadblocks detour his club this season.

"We want to build a program here and we also feel we have the talent to win right now," Stampone said. "It will help that I am teaching in the building as well. We basically want to build a foundation this season. We have a new system in place and the players have been adapting well to it. Our goals with the system will be to work off screens and control the tempo.

"We're getting our football players back and working them to get their basketball legs at this point.

Stampone will look to senior backcourt of point guard Marcus Morris and shooting guard Kyle George to help set the pace for his club this season. Also catching his eye in the early going has been junior Dylan Cook, Nick Cook, Ryan Hudock, and Doug Mahle.

It is a stocked junior class that can play a key role in the Kids' success this winter.

"We have a deep junior class and they will have to mature on the court," Stampone said. "We have nine of them (juniors), and we will be looking for their contributions. They will all have a big impact on our season."

Being a veteran of the Nazareth coach staff, Stampone is well aware of his club competing in the ultracompetitive Lehigh Valley Conference (LVC). The Kids will open their season against Pleasant Valley Friday and then face Central Catholic Saturday. As a possible springboard into the season, Stampone was impressed with his team's showing in a recent scrimmage against Pocono Mountain East.

"We need to learn fast to compete in the (LVC)," he stressed. "There are some weeks early in the season where we are playing three games a week. When we scrimmaged Pocono Mountain East, their coach told me that Pleasant Valley should be the favorite of their league (Mountain Valley Conference).

"So, we will face some tough teams right from the start. It will be a good test for us, but we'll be ready."

Along with his team, Stampone will be ready for his next move.