Von Stein takes reins as girls basketball coach

Alan Von Stein is the new Sisters High School girls varsity basketball coach. He is ready to begin the 2016-2017 season. Von Stein brings years of experience to the girls basketball program.

He grew up in Ohio and was a three-sport athlete. He played football, basketball, and track, but basketball was by far his favorite. However, while playing football, he tore his ACL and MCL, which ended his sports career.

Von Stein started coaching 22 years ago while living in Indiana, a state which takes its basketball very seriously. He has coached girls at all levels, including junior league, competitive AAU, middle school, junior varsity, varsity assistant, and as an interim varsity coach.

He coached for 18 years in Indiana, and then took a break so he could enjoy watching his three daughters play basketball at the collegiate level.

Alan and his wife, Rebecca, moved to Sisters from Indiana in 2014 for the weather and the outdoor lifestyle. The couple enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and playing tennis. Alan is a retired surgeon, but still does some physician volunteering through Volunteers in Medicine in Bend.

Von Stein stepped back into coaching this past year, and coached Sisters' eighth-grade girls basketball team, which went 7-3 in league and finished second in the Sisters Shootout tournament.

Von Stein was hired for the head coach position last spring, and this past summer took nine of his players to Western Oregon University to a basketball camp, where they spent 13 hours a day playing basketball.

Von Stein said, "These are great young women who deserve the opportunity to improve their skills in a sport that they are passionate about. High school athletics are not only about points, but are about helping to develop great citizens, who understand time management and the importance of teamwork."

Von Stein recognizes the potential in his student/athletes, and told The Nugget he is excited to have the opportunity to assist them in realizing their potential.

"My goals, all of which I've shared with the girls, are to improve fundamental play, to work hard, practice hard, to be a good teammate, and most importantly to have FUN! All the girls will have a clean slate with me. Playing time will be determined on the girls meeting the previously mentioned goals, not seniority. This is a varsity sport, so we will do our best to be as successful as we can be.

"Fundamentals are critical for the girls to be successful," added Von Stein. "If you watch the WNBA or women's collegiate basketball, successful teams play good team defense, set good picks, block out, and score points. We will need to accomplish all of the above in order to be successful."