Posted: Jan. 25, 2010

When the Brookfield East girls basketball team hosts West Allis Central on Tuesday, there will be a familiar face on the sidelines with the Bulldogs.

Kelly Lam, the Lady Spartans' second all-time leading scorer, is now courtside as an assistant coach under first-year head coach Dave Mlachnik.

"I always wanted to get back into basketball, but I never thought when," said Lam, a staff accountant at Kolb + Co. in Brookfield when Mlachnik called last summer.

Lam had played with Mlachnik's nieces in AAU ball, and Mlachnik knew Lam's father, Guy, having done business with Milwaukee Sporting Goods over the years. So he gave Lam a call.

"It's one of the better moves that I've made," Mlachnik said. "Her knowledge of the game is excellent, and she brings the college game experience with her. She has built a reputation with the girls."

Mlachnik and Lam have the Bulldogs near the top of the Greater Metro Conference with a 5-2 record in league play and 8-4 overall.

Local, college experience key

A former guard, Mlachnik wanted someone to work with his post players, so the talented Lam, an outstanding high school player at East who went on to play at Oklahoma and Marquette universities, fit the bill perfectly.

Having received her company's blessings to take the job, Lam jumped into her coaching duties.

"I have also learned a lot from coach Mlachnik," Lam said. "He has a lot of patience. I am not capable of being a head coach right now. I don't know enough.

"But watching coach Mlachnik coach, and taking things from (Marquette) coach (Teri) Mitchell and (former Brookfield East) coach (Lindy) Kemp, you see it from a different side."

Lam disliked doing drills as a player, but now she sees the advantages they bring.

"As a player you do all these drills that you hate," she said. "You do all that running that you hate. You ask, 'Why are we doing these drills?' But now I have the mind of a coach. You realize they had a purpose for everything we did.

"I use a lot of Teri's drills, and Lindy's. They had a lot of great drills. So knowing my team, I apply those drills so we can improve what we work on."

Students show respect

Lam is thrilled to work with Mlachnik, who has given her freedom to step in and give input during practice and on game night. She also is happy with the first group of players she is coaching.

"That's one thing I'm thankful for: My first coaching experience I've had one of the best group of kids to work with," Lam said. "And they listen. That's something I might not have done as a high schooler. I was probably a more stubborn player.

"I didn't listen all the time. These kids listen and they respect that I have played at those levels, and they really take what I have to say and use it."

Basketball has always been important to Lam, especially her four years (2000-04) at East.

"My basketball memories at high school are some of my best," Lam said. "Going to state, winning conference, the little things we did as a team. Those are the things you take with you.

"I love coaching. I love being around the kids. I love being around basketball. I love giving my knowledge out to the kids so maybe they will have as much fun as I did."

BY THE NUMBERS

Kelly Lam's time at Brookfield East

0

losses in Greater Metro Conference her senior year

14

wins in GMC her senior year

23:2

wins vs. losses, overall record as a senior

1,130

career points, second all-time at Brookfield East

UP NEXT

FRIDAY: Wauwatosa East (1-5, 3-8) at Brookfield East, 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY: West Allis Central (5-2, 8-4) at Brookfield East, 7:30 p.m.

LOWDOWN: The Lady Spartans were 3-3 in the Greater Metro Conference and 5-7 overall coming into the week. They beat Tosa East, 62-34, at Tosa East on Dec. 11. They dropped a thriller, 47-43, at West Allis Central in their first meeting Dec. 15.