The opportunity to teach and coach in the same building simply presented itself to Tom Bancroft.
So the veteran of heading in-state classrooms and assorted athletics jumped at the chance to be head coach of George Washington boys basketball, one of the fabled programs in Colorado annals.
“I’m really comfortable here,” the 54-year-old said Tuesday. “The kids are real, they’re needy, and I enjoy it.”
Having retired from teaching in the Cherry Creek district in 2003, Bancroft re-entered teaching last spring with Denver schools, then landed a position working in GW’s International Baccalaureate English program. The opening came up suddenly, when former coach Shawn Dirden advanced to the college ranks close to the start of the school year.
“(Coaching) was never mentioned when I was hired by the IB program,” Bancroft said. “We never talked about it.”
However, GW athletic director Steve Goldstein, who has known Bancroft since childhood, encouraged him to consider it and landed a coach who has been active since 1975.
“It’s a good move for us,” Goldstein said.
Bancroft was a graduate assistant under Bill Blair for the University of Colorado men’s team from 1975-76; head coach of Overland’s boys from 1978-84; an assistant at Cherry Creek for 20 years; and spent the past two seasons heading Littleton’s boys.
He also oversaw Cherry Creek boys tennis for two years and led the Bruins girls golfers for 17 years.
“Working in two buildings was problematic,” Bancroft said. “I left a great job at Littleton, but I’m excited about this opportunity.”
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
