By: Elijah Knight
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The sport of basketball is one with a long history especially at the University of Montevallo, Coach Anthony Komara is here to continue the growth of this basketball program
Who is Anthony Komara and why did he get into basketball?
Anthony Komara, 33, is the head coach of the University of Montevallo men’s basketball team. The Huntsville native first got involved in basketball around the time he could start picking up a ball and was greatly influenced by his dad. “My dad was a huge influence to me being in the sport of basketball,” Komara said. This influence has led to Komara striving to be in the coaching position he’s in today.
Growth over the years
Komara has been in the basketball coaching scene for over 10 years and started as a student-assistant video coordinator for Auburn University men’s basketball team in the 2009-2010 season.
He started coaching at University of Alabama at Huntsville in 2013 when he was unexpectedly offered a job straight out of college and served as an assistant coach eight of those years. In 2021, he moved up to associate head coach for UAH.
During this time, they would make it to seven NCAA tournaments, have three sweet sixteen appearances and win three Gulf South Conference tournaments.
Everyone I’ve coached or been on a staff line with has been fun to be around and the memories I’ve made while coaching are irreplaceable.
Anthony Komara
What made Anthony Komara want to coach UM men’s basketball?
Komara finished his time at UAH in 2022 after an amazing last year. He never intended on leaving UAH and he had great relationships that he built there over the years. Plus, the university was in his hometown.
The Montevallo head coach job opened April 2022, so he decided to give it a shot. His younger sister was a UM alum, and he had seen the campus before and knew of its traditions.
Komara spoke on Mark Richard, the current UM athletic director, and said he was a big reason in him accepting the job due to the recent success the program had.
I couldn’t envision that this wasn’t the place to be… It was a no brainer to coach basketball at the University of Montevallo.
Anthony Komara
The common purpose
While Komara hopes to inspire and motivate his players to do good on and off the court, he also wants them to exceed expectations.
He wants his players to accomplish four things:
- Graduate
- Use the skills they gain on and off the court to grow as people
- Win championships
- Make sure they have fun while their here and after
“This is the common purpose I keep with myself and to the players on this team,” said Komara. He hopes to inspire them to grow as better men the more they mature throughout their time here at UM.
What does Komara want to achieve?
Komara wants to win championships and that is the main goal of any coach. He wants to continue the culture of growing students here at UM. He has hopes of these young men growing and thriving not only academically but in their personal lives even after graduation.
Even though this is only his second year coaching, he feels as if the players have already gotten close to that culture and branding he wants to output. Komara is proud of the amazing staff, students and professors he’s met and been able to work with since being hired.
Our players on this team are embracing the culture that was here before me and them and are continuing to expand into amazing men.
Anthony Komara
Vallo Vision News 