For most coaches, growth in a basketball team and normally every other sport isn't totally measured in the amount of wins and losses in a season. Northampton head boys' basketball coach Coy Stampone has long been a proponent of the adage, and the first-year coach has a first-hand experience of its effects this winter.

Stampone took over the reins of the program in late May and already knew the cards might be stacked against him. He didn't have sufficient enough time to devise his own scheme for the summer program that began a month after his hiring.

With new faces and new system in place, Stampone figured the indoctrination of his program to his players wouldn't be accomplished overnight. A teacher in the high school, Stampone is anxious to implement his second phase of a multiphased project after an inaugural 3-19 campaign this season.

"We've already started our weightlifting program," said the ever-optimistic and upbeat Stampone. "We'll also get started with our open gyms as soon as we can. Last year, it really didn't work out with me taking over in May.

"We really dealt with some workouts in the fall and then had a large number of players coming in from Thanksgiving. But everyone is ready to get started toward next season."

He is ready to shake off any remnants from this past season that proved to be a series of trials for him and his squad.

"There were a lot of challenges in the process," said Stampone, who coached at Pen Argyl in the same capacity for one season before he took the position. "It was a matter of learning on and off the court. There were plenty of learning experiences along the way for everyone. But those kinds of challenges are there every singles year, and it was different for me being a head coach here this year.

"We all had to get through some difficult circumstances with injuries to dismissing some players off the team. But I believe we all grew in the process and will be better from the experiences."

Stampone was happy with the play of his senior class and cited the consistent play of point guard Marcus Morris and center Derek Kulp, both of whom paced the club in scoring most of the season.

He is also excited about the prospects of his junior varsity program that won eight games this past winter as well as a plethora of talent in the sophomore and juniors classes. However, Stampone knows he will have to find the right formula to help his team reach the next level.

"We were really happy with the JV team," he said. "They had a nice year and were in every game. There is a lot of talent among our underclassmen.

"We just have to be able to jell more as a team and program. We need to create a chemistry among us, and that takes time."

He relished the team chemistry enjoyed by Colonial League champion Bangor and would like his team to follow the same path.

"The Bangor kids are good friends on and off the court," said Stampone. "They have been playing together for a while and had a great team chemistry. We need to build that part of our program soon."

One major step could have been the team's win over Nazareth in the season and home finale.

"The Nazareth win felt good," stressed Stampone. "I told our seniors before the game that they needed to go out strong. It was the last time they wore the Northampton uniform and it was great to win at home.

"Now, we have to go forward from here."

This time around, growing with some experiences behind them should take them down a smoother road.