LOHS hires Marshall Cho as new varsity boys basketball coach

LAKE OSWEGO REVIEW | By Jillian Daley | May 1, 2015

Lake Oswego High School has a new varsity boys basketball coach: Marshall Cho, the former director of basketball operations for the University of Portland.

Cho also has served as an assistant coach at storied DeMatha Catholic High School in Maryland and on the support staff for USA Basketball. He started his job this week and says he is thrilled to be joining the Lakers.

"I'm just thankful to have an opportunity to impact the lives of the young men there and just really get to know them," Cho said.

Cho, 39, has worked as a coach and instructor for the Mozambique National Basketball Federation and as varsity boys basketball coach at the American International School of Mozambique.

He also was the head boys basketball coach at Future Leaders Institute Charter School, leading the team to a New York City Charter School Championship.

He says his experience has always informed his coaching style.

"Always putting the kids as the priority, that's something that I learned from my mentors that I've worked with over the years at the University of Portland and DeMatha Catholic High School," he said.

Cho said he plans to meet with LOHS players, Principal Cindy Schubert, Athletic Director Brigham Baker and other administrators this week. His references supported his "abilities as an educator and coach in building character and positive relationships," Schubert said in email last week.

"After an extensive interview process, Marshall rose as the top candidate and the best match for Lake Oswego High School," Schubert's email said. "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."

Cho, who will serve as a substitute teacher for his first year on the job, earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Oregon and a master's in secondary mathematics education from Columbia University Teachers College.

Cho grew up in Springfield, Ore., and played basketball while attending Springfield High School. When he joined Teach for America after graduating from the U of O, he says his basketball skills gave him "street credibility" with the kids he taught in New York's South Bronx and Harlem.

"You just use the game to connect with the kids," he said. "It was quite a challenging environment for me to teach in right out of school."

His career blossomed from there.

"It's been an amazing journey, and it's just amazing that there's new chapters ahead," Cho said. "I'm really excited to get going on it."

Cho and his wife, Connie, have two children, Nathaniel and Emma. The family will be moving from South Portland to Lake Oswego this month.

"We're excited to put our roots down," he said.

Cho replaces former boys basketball coach Mark Shoff, who was removed from his role as head coach of the school's varsity boys basketball team following an alleged altercation with a player at the Les Schwab Invitational Tournament in December. Shoff retired from his job as PE/health teacher on April 19.