Lake Oswego hires Marshall Cho as head basketball coach

THE OREGONIAN | By Andrew Nemec | May. 01, 2015, 7:49 A.M.

Lake Oswego High School announced Marshall Cho as its new boys basketball coach Friday.

From 2012-14, Cho was the director of basketball operations at the University of Portland. In April, Cho worked with Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit and coached against the national squad during in-practice scrimmages.

Cho said he's excited to enter a community that is so engaged in its athletics.

"It's a special community. It's an opportunity, with the community support and the school, that could be a special program – not just in wins or fighting for championships, but in a community like that... it definitely called out to me," he said.

He inherits a program that went 16-10 last season, but was marred by turmoil after Mark Shoff was removed from his position midseason following an incident at the Les Schwab Invitational.

In 19-plus years as the Lakers' head coach, Shoff carried a 353-124 record at Lake Oswego, making the state playoffs 18 consecutive years and winning eight Three Rivers League titles and one state championship (2006).

Cho said he believes he is prepared to handle a change in culture because of his experience working as an assistant coach at Maryland-Washington D.C. powerhouse program DeMatha High School from 2009-12. There he learned how to take over for a legend by watching how DeMatha coaches worked to replace nationally-renowned basketball coach Morgan Wootten.

"It's really similar to what Lake Oswego had with Coach Shoff," he said. "One of the reasons the (DeMatha) job intrigued me when I wanted to join the staff was, 'How does somebody follow a legend like Morgan Wootten? How did he bring his own voice, and yet embrace the school culture that was there before?' I understand there is a very strong school culture at Lake Oswego. That's the No. 1 thing I'm going to focus on... getting to know the culture that already exists at the school. Number two, you can't fake your personality. You have to be yourself with kids of that age group."

Cho has yet to complete his coaching staff, but said he "has some coaches in mind" for assistant positions.

Lake Oswego released a statement Friday night about the hire. It read, in full:

"Lake Oswego High School is pleased to announce Marshall Cho as the new varsity boys basketball coach.

After an extensive interview process, Marshall rose as the top candidate and the best match for Lake Oswego High School. He has experience at the college, high school, and youth levels; and involvement in organizations and events such as USA Basketball, Hoops 4 Hope, Nike Hoop Summit and NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Africa.

References all echoed Marshall’s innate abilities as an educator and coach in building character, positive relationships, and love for the game, all while skillfully executing the game of basketball. Todd Chapman, a former basketball parent, stated that 'Marshall developed a thriving basketball program in less than one year that became the envy of the international school circuit.  He inspired these international athletes to apply their soccer-oriented skills to the basketball court with results that won not only games but also the hearts of an entire student body.  The group of young men under Coach Cho’s leadership became a disciplined team, a cohesive unit, and the pride of the school.'

Before accepting the position at LO, Marshall Cho was the Director of Basketball Operations at University of Portland, support staff member for USA Basketball, assistant coach for DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland, coach and basketball clinician in Mozambique, and head boys basketball coach at Future Leaders Institute Charter School in New York. He has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Oregon, and a Masters in Secondary Mathematics Education from Columbia University – Teachers College.

Please join us in welcoming Marshall, his wife Connie and their two children Nathaniel and Emma to the Laker family. Marshall is anxious to start building relationships with his prospective team, hire his assistant coaches, develop relationships with LOYTBA, and get to know our community."